Lawrence Dean Hartzler

Sargeant Major Lawrence “Larry” Dean Hartzler 1934-2020

Sgt. Major Lawrence Dean Hartzler retired, died November 25, 2020, from congestive heart failure. He was born April 9, 1934 in Washington County, Iowa, the son of Herbert Leroy and Emma (Swartzendruber) Hartzler. Larry was raised on a farm outside Iowa City and attended a one-room school a mile from home.

After graduating from Riverside High School, rather than wait for the draft, Larry joined the Marine Corps, as one of his brothers had in World War II. He had planned to return to attend college and coach after his enlistment. Instead, he spent 32 years in the Corps with various assignments in this country and abroad.  He served twice at American Embassies, each for 3 years, first in Spain, later Burma. When the Vietnam War started he was sent there, was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart. His next tour was one of the best as he was an instructor at Yale University, training the young cadets in the Navy ROTC program. After three years he was sent back for another tour in Vietnam, and was there for the evacuation of the American Embassy and personnel as the country fell.  He later served at Subic Bay in the Philippines. The commandant of the Marine Corps asked him where he wanted to serve his last tour, and he asked to go back to the Marine Security Guard Battalion at Quantico, where he served until retirement. The job meant traveling to all American Embassies around the world, visiting 118 in those three years.

He is survived by his present wife of 33 years Carolyn Smith Stringer, two children from his first marriage Lisa (John) Kadous of San Antonio, TX and Timothy (Tammy) Hartzler of Nokesville, VA, three stepsons George (Wendy) Stringer of Orlando, FL, Stuart (Jennifer) Stringer of Woodbridge and Ashley (Lisa) Stringer of Silver Spring, MD,
10 grandchildren Karyn and Victoria Kadous, Zachory and Andrew Nelson, Jessica, Jillian, and Julia Stringer, Sophia and Matthew Stringer, and Wilson Stringer,
3 great-grandchildren Alleigh, Brantley, and Wesley Nelson, sisters Ruth Southwick (NM), Wilma Hankins (NC), and brother Robert (OK). He was preceded in death by siblings: Ron, Vernon, Eugene, Herb Jr., Marietta (Betz) Yoder, and Judy Wiese.

Larry was an avid hunter and fisherman and had been a member of Fairfax Rod and Gun Club, Quantico Rod and Gun Club, Northern Neck Anglers Club and The Reedsville Fisherman’s Museum. He enjoyed elk hunting in Colorado, deer hunting in Iowa, trout fishing in Canada and in Chesapeake Bay for rockfish. He and friends enjoyed golf vacations and traveling to some of the loveliest courses far and near.  Poppy was a “handyman,” building playhouses for grandchildren or just lending tools and advice to friends and family. Larry was known for his kindness, generosity, and depth of heart. He and his wife were members of historic Aquia Church in Stafford, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Aquia Church, 2938 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Stafford, VA 22554 or Mary Washington Hospice,  Fredericksburg, VA. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.