Larry Fry is not known for taking it easy. After working 35 years in a civil service job he held with the U.S. Air Force, Fry retired in 1997. Fry then began a new career at MacAulay Brown, Inc. in Beavercreek until retiring again in December 2016. Today, Fry, a devout Christian and proud New Carlisle resident, devotes much of his time serving others in the community he lives in and loves.
“(It is) an opportunity to be a blessing to others and to help them in their faith journey, whether through my testimony for Jesus Christ or with a simple act of kindness,” says Fry.
One look at Fry’s schedule proves that he frequently grasps as many opportunities as he can to help others.
To begin with, Fry serves as Lay Leader at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (GSUMC) in Park Layne Manor. He is also a GSUMC Church representative for Bethel Churches United (BCU) and the chairman of the New Carlisle CROP Hunger Walk.
Fry also serves as the Treasurer for the Friends of the New Carlisle Public Library. The group helps sustain, improve, expand, and promote the library.
“Our most intensive efforts are the Spring and Fall Book Sales which enables us to provide great bargains in reading material to area residents and fund library programs and services,” explains Fry.
Another civic group Fry volunteers with is the New Carlisle Breakfast Optimist Club. The group is tied to Optimist International and works to meet the needs of the community’s youth.
“Optimist Clubs have been ‘Bringing Out the Best in Kids’ since 1919,” explains Fry, “We support the development of kids in the Tecumseh Local School District with encouragement through essay contests and grants...we also have a strong relationship with Tecumseh High School’s Jr. Optimist club.”
As a member of the Western Clark County Business Coalition (WCCBC), Fry promotes the BCU, Friends of the Library, and Optimist Club and the work they are doing in and around the New Carlisle area.
Fry is also a familiar face at Bethel Township Community Group’s (BTCG) monthly free community dinners, offered in conjunction with GSUMC. He is one of many volunteers who enjoy helping out with the dinners held at 6 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month (except July and August) at the church located at 1520 Styer Drive in New Carlisle.
Although Fry and his wife, June, still reside in New Carlisle, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandson all live out of state. Fry says he is very proud that his family members are faith-driven, volunteer often, and support each other in their volunteer work.
Fry says the reason for his volunteerism is simple: it all comes down to his faith and bringing hope to others.
“It is all done in service to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” says Fry, “Everyone needs to know that they have hope for the future. When you become a volunteer, you are blessed with the great prospect of creating hope for others. The positive impact is multiplied when any hopelessness you feel from your own problems is blotted out by the awesome feeling in your heart when you bring a smile to another person’s face.”
