William Lawrence Wakefield — Larry to the world, sometimes Larry Bill to friends — was born on July 15, 1936 to William (Bill) and Faye Wakefield. He died in Springfield, Missouri on Feb. 24, 2023. A generation earlier, one of Larry’s grandfathers was a buffalo hunter in Texas and one was a cowboy in Colorado. Larry had a twinkle in his eye that would not have been out of place in a Wild West saloon, and a charitable heart that needed no public recognition. He believed in tradition, doing the right thing, keeping his word, and taking care of his family. Larry played violin in Jarrett Middle School but in Central High School traded fiddle for football and lettered on the Bulldogs. In 1955, he married his childhood sweetheart, Maryann Dalton (whose teasing daddy used to tell her she’d descended from the Dalton Gang). One Valentine’s Day, Larry wrote Maryann a love poem and signed it, “Big Al Capone.” He never stopped proving his love and, as Maryann recently remarked, if she ever got lost, he always found her. They had two sons, Allen and Scott. After attending Missouri State University, Larry took a job at a chemical plant known as Syntex, originally Hoffman-Taff. The company changed owners and names during his tenure, but Larry remained for his entire working career, rising through the ranks in management positions. For a time, he and Maryann also co-owned Gamble’s Gift Store with dear, lifelong friends David and Sandy Harrison. Larry hunted, golfed, and canoed; could somehow make spaghetti and meatballs on a riverbank. Whether it was shooting or smoking turkeys, he shared his interests generously. A longtime member of Sertoma, he worked countless Chili Cookoffs and Bingo Nights to raise money for Boys & Girls Clubs and other charities. Larry enjoyed traveling, cruises, and winter vacations in Florida. He belonged to Twin Oaks Country Club and was a participating member of Central Christian Church. He was busy until weeks before his death. Gone before Larry were his parents and son Scott Wakefield. He is survived by his wife Maryann; son Allen Wakefield and wife Lisa; brother Richard Wakefield and wife Donna; sister Maridel Niederriter and husband Jim (Sneed); and six grandchildren and their families — Amos Bridges, wife Paulette Harvey and their daughter, Isla; Phil Bridges, wife Dana, and their children, Cole and Lucy; Mandy Shrock, husband Gavin, and their children, Isaiah and Kaitlyn; Ryan Fordyce, wife Sarah, and their children, Charlotte, Vivian and Conrad; Dalton Wakefield and wife Ryann; and Alex Wakefield and partner Taylor Bolls. Visitation will be held Saturday, March 4 at Central Christian Church at 1 p.m., with a service at 2 p.m. Burial will be at Greenlawn North Cemetery at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield was Larry’s favorite charity.