In Memory

Larry Cummings - Class Of 1960

Larry Cummings

 

Lawrence Franklin Cummings

June 7, 1942-January 30, 2013

Larry Cummings, 70, of Dryden, Michigan and formally Crawfordsville, Indiana passed away peacefully at 10 p.m. Wednesday in his home.

Larry was born June 7, 1942 in Marshall, Indiana to John F. and Susie Lee (Trueman) Cummings. He was married to Nanci Burton on February 25, 1973; this year Larry and Nanci would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.  He is survived by his wife Nanci, daughters Christine (James) and grandson Jack Chittim of Texas and Elizabeth of Chicago, son Chase of Crawfordsville.  

Mr. Cummings graduated from Wabash College where he was a member of Sigma Chi. While attending Wabash, Larry became active in the US Senate campaign of Birch Bayh. Upon graduation, he continued a 12-year career in Washington DC with Senator Bayh. Larry continued his involvement with the Bayh family and chaired task forces and committees for Governor Evan Bayh as Chairperson of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Nominating Commission and later as a member of the Executive Committee of the State of Indiana Economic Development Commission.

After their time in Washington, Larry and Nanci came back to Indiana and began a new adventure as owners of an automobile dealership. During the 22 years of building Larry Cummings OLDS-GMC, Larry served as President of the Hoosier Olds Family dealer marketing group and served on numerous regional and national dealer councils. He also served as President of the Oldsmobile Board of Governance for two years.

Larry was recognized as an active and contributing member of the community he called home. Larry was a board member of the Indiana Democratic Party, University Club, Rotary International, Junior Achievement, Aviation Board of Montgomery County, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, and numerous others. Larry received two Sagamore of the Wabash distinctions from Governor Evan Bayh and Governor Frank O’Bannon.  As busy as he was, he never missed an academic or athletic event of his children or a weekend of family time at the lake. Family was always Larry’s first priority.

After retirement from the car dealership in 1998, Larry continued to contribute in many areas of the automotive industry. In 2003, Larry took on one last major effort with Automotive Youth Educational Systems, as President of AYES in Troy, Michigan, and retired in 2011.

A memorial service will be held in Crawfordsville, Indiana at the Wabash College Chapel on February 23rd 2013 at 2:00 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Wabash College in Larry’s name and sent to 301 W. Wabash Ave, Crawfordsville, IN 47933.