Larry Lee Reagan, 84, of Lehigh Twp., died surrounded by his loving family, Friday, December 29, 2017 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg - Bethlehem, after a difficult health struggle. He was born in Belfast to the late Horace & Esther (Young) Reagan. Larry is the husband of Marion (Swanson) Reagan whom were married October 12, 1957.
Larry graduated from Nazareth High School. He served our country for 2 years in the U.S. Army stationed in Italy. He worked at SI Handling- Forks Twp., upon retiring he worked for Pen Argyl High School as a van driver. Larry fully retired in 1995, after 15 years at the school. His hobbies were fishing and hunting but mostly singing four-part harmony. He joined BHS at the age of 15 in Easton.
Larry sang for 20 years in the Out of Towners (1960) quartet from the Allentown-Bethlehem Chapter. They formed in 1958 to compete in a novice quartet contest held as part of the Dundalk Chapter’s boat ride which also featured the Oriole Four, won that contest and went on to win the MAD crown in Atlantic City 2 years later, beating out 54 other foursomes. They competed numerous times at the International Competition in the early 1960’s and sang on many chapter shows with SPEBSQSA International Quartet Champions including the Buffalo Bills, Mid-States Four, Suntones, Pittsburghers, Boston Common, and SAI Queens the Gibson Girls.
He started a new chorus in 1982 in the Bangor/Pen Argyl area who chartered with 80 men.
Larry was voted into DELASUSQUEHUDMAC in 1980, an elite group of men who achieved high recognition in the society. He was a stalwart on the front row of the MADAQC Chorus for many years alongside of his life-long best pal Bob Parry, something he looked forward to each year with great pride. Larry received his 70-year membership card at Christmas 2017.
He was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ of Slatington, where he sang in the choir.
In addition to Marion, his wife of 60 years, sons: Rob R. and his wife Susan, Terry L. and his fiancé Laura and Keith A. and his wife Lucy; grandchildren: Julie, Allison, Abby, Christopher, David, Jacob, Marisol; great-granddaughter: Esmariah. Larry is predeceased by a brother: Raymond Reagan.
A celebration of life was be held in the spring of 2018 at St Luke's UCC of Belfast, 471 Belfast Rd, Nazareth, 18064. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Schmidt Funeral Home, 407 Belvidere St., Nazareth.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to St. John's United Church of Christ of Slatington, 15 South Second Street - Slatington, 18080 &/or Harmony Foundation, (by mail) 110 Seventh Ave North, Suite 200 - Nashville TN 37203-3704, or (online) at harmonyfoundation.org/ways-to-give/memorial-giving. Larry’s name will be honored on the 'Keep a Melody Ringing' wall in Nashville when gifts totaling $1000 are received in Larry’s memory.
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