NORWICH – Lawrence G. “Larry” Gale, also known to his friends as Toad, 61, of Norwich, passed away Thursday afternoon, Dec. 24, 2009, at his home.
Born in February of 1947 in Norwich, the son of David O. and Frances Natoli Gale Hickling, Larry grew up in Norwich. Following his 1965 graduation from the Norwich High School, he entered the U.S. Marine Corps to serve his country. Larry returned to Norwich following his honorable discharge and worked for a brief time for the City of Norwich Police Department before relocating to Raleigh, N.C., to begin his lengthy career in telecommunications. Initially an installer with North Electric which did contract work for the C&U Telephone Corp., Larry worked for North and its successors, ending the 30-plus year span as an instructor who traveled worldwide for IT&T. He had relocated back to the Norwich area less than two years ago, to be closer to his family.
Away from the job, Larry’s life was golf. He took his clubs everywhere he went, playing as often as he could. He also enjoyed fishing with “Uncle Butchie,” and was a former member of the Norwich Fire Department’s Alert Hose Company.
Larry is survived by his mother, Frances Hickling of Oxford; by his sisters: Jody Storrin and husband Ron of Norwich, Barb Lacy and husband Mark of Cincinnati, Ohio, Bridget Provo, and Shannon Cruikshank; and by his brothers, Jim Hickling and companion Diana Lynn of Norwich and Tom Hickling of Smithfield, N.C. Also surviving are his nieces and nephew: Tamora Dinoto, Heather Ray, Bradley Muchnicki, and Stacie Muchnicki; his uncle Charles “Butchie” Townsend and wife Barb of Mt. Upton; his sister-in-law, Donna Gale of Norwich; and several other nieces, nephews, and cousins. Also surviving are several special people in Larry’s life who were more than friends, his “right hand,” supporters and helpers above and beyond: Lisa Babcock and Dottie VanVliet, and his life-long “almost brothers,” Gary Follett, Bob Bailey, and Jim Jared. Larry was predeceased by his dad, David Gale; his brothers, David and Michael Gale, and his step-dad, Richard Hickling.
Services for Larry will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday from the R. J Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Brian Conover, pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, will officiate. Interment will be at a later date in the Mt. Hope Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m.
Please consider contributions to the Renal/Dialysis Care Center, 65 Pennsylvania Avenue, Binghamton, NY 13903.