Larry Farling, 86, of Bluffton, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, July 10, 2022, at Christian Care Retirement Community.
The son of Harold and Anna Louise (Larrimer) Farling, Larry was born in Bluffton on March 2, 1936. Larry graduated in 1954 from Bluffton High School. Larry and Karolyna Gilbert were married in 1954.
Larry spend most of his life in the grocery business. Larry’s grandfather, Cloyd Farling, started a grocery store and meat market, Farling’s Finer Foods. The store was contined by Larry’s father, Harold, and uncle, Clody (Prunie) Farling, Jr. Larry grew up working in the store at 122 W. Market Street. In 1954, a new, larger store was built at 935 N. Main Street. After a devastating fire, another larger store was built near the same site. Eventually, Farling’s Finer Foods was sold to Maloley Bros. and Larry continued his employment with them. In later years, the store changed owners several times and Larry continued to work for each new owner.
Larry also worked part-time for the Wells County Sheriff’s Department as a process server, retiring from that position in December 2014 after 20 years of service. Larry was a great Indy 500 follower and attended 48 races and was awarded a certificate for his loyal support. He and his sons looked forward to May to spend time together and visit the track and attend the race.
He is survived by his wife, Karolyna of Bluffton, three children; Jack Farling of Indianapolis, Joe (Roseanne) Farling of Holiday, Fla., and Juliann Gamble of Fort Wayne, and three grandchildren; Kyle (Lisa) Farling of Tarpon Springs, Fla., Kelli (Rich) Mastanduno of Land O’ Lakes, Fla. and Jason Farling of Indianapolis, along with five great-grandchildren.
Larry is preceded in death by his parents and a sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis and Clyde Shady.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton with Barry Crosbie officiating. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made in Larry’s memory to Christian Care Retirement Community.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can send online condolences to Larry’s family at
www.thomarich.com.