Larry Wander

Larry Biebel Wander, age 80, of Erie passed away Saturday, December 29, 2018 at Fairview Manor as a result of Alzheimers. He was born May 1, 1938 in Elyria, OH the son of the late Ronald W. and Marian Biebel Wander.

He was a 1956 graduate of McDowell High School and a 1960 graduate of Alfred University. Having taken Army ROTC in college, Larry was stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany as a tank platoon commander. After the army, Larry worked for Dunn & Bradstreet in Pittsburgh, PA; Manhattan, NY and East Orange, NJ. He later was an Erie realtor for Holland Metro Real Estate and following his retirement in 2001, he then became a part-time driver for the Sisters of St. Joseph Community Living Center. He was active and held offices in the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie, the Lions Eye Bank of Northwest PA, the Elks club, Times Old Newsies, and was co-facilitator for the “Man to Man” cancer support group.

Besides his parents, Larry was preceded in death by two brothers, Mike Wander and Steve Wander; a brother-in-law, Joe Della Badia; and his best friends, Jack Cray, Don Butler and Jack Gremba.

He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Marguerite (Fink) Wander; a son, Eric J. Farabaugh, Sr. and his wife Suzanne of Ashburn, VA; a daughter, Erin Farabaugh Lawrence and her husband Matthew of Pittsburgh, PA ; grandchildren, Eric James and Madison Farabaugh, and Hannah, Michael & Ben Lawrence. He is also survived by two brothers, Ronald Wander of MI and James Wander of FL; a brother-in-law, Jeff Fink (Jean); niece Jennifer; sister-in-law Marlene McGonigle, nephews Jay and Brian McGonigle; niece Leanne McGonigle Poth and their families. He is further survived by cousins Carol Lee Restifo and Grace Roberts Brooks; special friends Deborah Cable and Marisa Vest and all their families.

Larry’s family would like to thank the VA Medical Center, Great Lakes Hospice, and all the staff at Fairview Manor for the wonderful care and compassion shown to them during his illness.

There will be no visitation. A celebration of Larry’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie, PO Box 3495, Erie, PA 16509. Arrangements by the Quinn Funeral Home, West 9^th & Liberty St.