Larry Mitchell Rankin

Larry Mitchell Rankin, born November 11,1936 in Wichita, KS, passed away February 16th, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Cox Rankin, in 1960 and they were married 65 years. Rankin served in the Navy for 4 years assigned to the USS Prairie. He attended Oklahoma State University with a degree in Construction management.

Rankin and Joyce resided in Lawrence, Kansas for most of their life. He held his profession as a General Contractor, (running his own construction company) while raising his two daughters. The last 20 years of his professional life, Larry and Joyce lived in Kailua, Hawaii and Phoenix, Arizona. He retired back in Lawrence, Kansas and then they moved to Colorado in 2020 to be near family.

Throughout Larry’s career and through retirement, he was a member of many civic organizations and was well-respected throughout the community. Rankin supported the USS Phoenix submarine group for years. He served on the board of SWROA for many years as well. Also, through his generosity, he volunteered several years as general contractor for Health Care Access, which helped those not able to afford medical care. That generosity saved the clinic close to $40,000. After Rankin retired, he donated all his construction tools to the Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center to help benefit the students there. As a member of the First Presbyterian Church, he volunteered his time on the Fellowship Committee and as a Trustee.

Rankin leaves his loving wife, Joyce, their daughters, Lisa Mallory and Christa MacFarlane along with their husbands, Scott Mallory and John MacFarlane. Rankin also leaves his four grandchildren, Meghan, Kelly and wife Molly, Paige, Matt and wife, Hayley and his two great-granddaughters, Finn and Wallis.

Rankin was a devoted husband, father, father-in-law, grandparent and great-grandparent. He was a patriot, a man of integrity and was quick to make friends with a loving heart. He leaves his family, friends and community with memories of his laughter, love and lots of stories.