Larry Wayne Monroe

U.S. Navy Commander, Officer Larry Wayne Monroe, nicknamed, “Gunner” was born in Sidney, Ohio on May 2, 1939 and passed away in Boulder City, Nevada on March 31, 2026 due to natural causes. His body will be placed to rest at the Graceland Cemetery in Sidney, Ohio. He was a registered organ/tissue donor. 

In his younger years, Larry retained the rank of Eagle Scout. 

He is a Vietnam Veteran. During his service in the military, he served on four ships, including USS Mississinewa (AO-144) from July 1957-May 1958, USS Canisteo (AO-99) from August 1958-July 1959, USS Snowden (DE-246) from August 1961-July 1962, & on the USS Midway (CVA-41) (now a museum in San Diego, California) from November 1971-December 1973.

He often talked about his experience with the VP-48 Plane Squadron, and TACCO P-3 Orion during his service. He earned several medals in the military, including: National Defense Service Medal; Navy Expeditionary Medal (Cuba); Armed Forces Expeditionary (Korea), Vietnam Service Medal (6 Stars), Vietnam Campaign with Device-1960; Air Medal; Navy Achievement Medal; Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon (USS Midway); Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions Medal; First Class Color with Palm); Meritorious Unit Citation (2) NAF Cam Ranh Bay RVM, Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon with 1 Bronze Star, Combat Action Ribbon, and Foreign Awards, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, and Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions Medal, First Class Color with Palm).

He graduated from Texas A & I University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology. He was a Geologist in the oil industry and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for several years after serving in the military.

He was a member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).

In the 1980’s, he donated a kidney to his son, Brian in Texas.

In 2017, he suffered from a brain aneurysm. 

His mother was Ruth Esther Setsor and his father, Lawrence Russell Monroe was an electrician and passed away from electrocution in 1941. Esther remarried Chris Henke and they had a son, half brother, Thomas J. Henke.

Larry is survived by his ex-wife, Kazuko Atomura, daughters Annette Lynch and June Monroe, grandchildren Saber, Mariah, and Sebastian, great grandchildren, Isabella and Ryland, and nephew Joseph Henke and niece Jennifer Henke, both of Fort Loramie, Ohio. 

He is preceded in death by his son, Brian Patrick Monroe (2014), and half brother, Thomas J. Henke (2025).

The family would like to thank family, friends, and the Southern Nevada State Veterans Home for their love, care, and support, and a special thank you to military friends Ronald Brothers and Jay Beardslee. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the National Kidney Foundation at: www.kidney.org and/or Donate Life America at: www.donatelife.net. You can register to be an organ/tissue donor at: www.donatelife.net.

*There are no photos in uniform of his final rank of Commander. Attached military photos are prior to promotion of rank of Commander.*

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 12 P.M. at Cromes-Edwards Funeral Home, 302 S. Main Avenue, Sidney, OH 45365, with Deacon Phil Myers and Pastor Shawn Wilges officiating, and close friend Tom Evilsizor eulogizing. Visitation will be on Thursday from 11 A.M. until the time of service at noon. Burial with military honors performed by the United States Navy and the Sidney Veteran’s Honor Guard will be held at Graceland Cemetery.

Lunch will follow at First Baptist Church, 309 East North Street, Sidney, Ohio 45365.