Lazaro "Larry" Corpus , Jr.

Lazaro Corpus, Jr.

Retired 1st Lt. Lazaro Corpus, Jr., of Maxwell, Texas, took his Final Rest in Kyle, Texas, on Friday, April 14, 2023, at what he would argue was the youthful age of 86.

“Larry,” or “Lalo” as he was fondly known, was born on Jan. 8, 1937, to Lazaro Corpus and Carmen Guerrero, and was raised in rural Hays and Caldwell Counties with his four siblings. He graduated San Marcos High School in 1956 and soon began the career that would dominate his life for nearly 24 years, and his personality for a lifetime.

Larry enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, building a career and education in military administration (which served him well later in life), while traveling the world and also building a family with Daria Rocha and their four children. Prior to his retirement from his beloved Marines in 1977, Larry served several duty stations and received a number of honors, including Navy Commendation Medal w/Combat V, Republic of Vietnam MUC Civil Action Color, Vietnam Service Medal, Rifle Expert Badge, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Pistol Marksman Badge and a Certificate of Commendation.

In addition to collecting skills, commendations and accolades, he collected hours of stories, jokes and light-spirited insults that he used to command his personal “troops,” the group of cherished friends he gathered with routinely to share a cold beverage, war stories, insults, irritations, arguments, support, friendship and love.

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos once wrote, “There's no such thing as a former Marine. You're a Marine, just in a different uniform and you're different phase of your life.” Larry would have spun the tale to have anyone listening believe those words were personal advice offered him by the Commandant. In truth, though, it was very simply the philosophy by which he lived his life.

After his (first) retirement from the Service, Larry took a position as the Veteran's Service Officer for Caldwell County, Texas. In 14 short years, built that position from a desk and a wastebasket in what was formerly a janitor's closet, to a program that helped hundreds of Veterans seek out the VA benefits they had earned, celebrations and remembrances of Caldwell County Veterans that the community continues to enjoy today, and a budget he no longer had to fund out of his own pocket. Even after his “retirement” in 2010, he continued to use his expertise in administration to help Veterans, even those he had never met, cut through the red tape and find whatever help they needed – whether it was medical treatment, residential care, or a warm ear, a caring shoulder and a cold beer.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Carmen (Guerrero) Corpus, Lazaro Corpus and Vicente Corpus; his siblings: Carmen Garza, Lydia “Lilly” Serna, Alejandro Corpus and Vicente Corpus; and his former wife and mother of his children, Daria Rocha.

His memory will be treasured by his children: Lazaro Corpus, III, Virginia Corpus, Monica Corpus and Carolina Corpus-Ybarra; his 16 grandchildren; his many great-grandchildren; dozens of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and grand-nephews; a lifetime of loving friends; and a legacy of Servicemembers who helped him as much as he helped them.

The family will greet visitors at Eeds Funeral Home, 408 S. Main St., Lockhart, Texas, on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, from 6 – 8 p.m. The Rosary will be recited on Tuesday evening at Eeeds Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary's of the Visitation Catholic Church, 205 W. Pecan St., Lockhart, Texas, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at 10 a.m., with burial with Military Honors following in the Lockhart Municipal Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests honorary contributions in Larry’s memory to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, www.vfw.org, or by contributing to or volunteering with your local Post.

Arrangements under the care and direction of Eeds Funeral Home, 408 S. Main Street, Lockhart, Texas, 78644 (512) 398-2343.

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