February 11, 2025, 78, Pricetown —
Larry Kent Shivar, 78, of the Pricetown community of Wayne County, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on the afternoon of February 11, 2025. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Trudy Iris Price Shivar, his two sons Larry Chadbourne (Chad) Shivar and his wife, Christy, of Pricetown and Eric Stephen Shivar and his wife, Meredith, of Goldsboro. He was also Pepa to four grandchildren whom he adored, Cailyn Shivar, Lauren Shivar, Carsyn Shivar, and Colton Shivar. He was also survived by three brothers, a sister, and several special nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Tapp Shivar and Edna Doris Shivar in addition to his wife’s parents, Alton Brinkley Price and Lillian Goodson Price.
Larry was born and raised in the Daly’s Chapel community of Lenoir County on his daddy’s tobacco farm beside his brothers, Curtis Shivar (Virginia), Tim Shivar, and DW Shivar (Edie) and his sister, Marian Barwick. It was on this farm that he fought lovingly with his brothers, took care of his sister, and learned the value of an honest day’s hard work. He attended Moss Hill School and graduated in the first class from South Lenoir High School in Deep Run in 1964. Larry and Trudy married in 1966, and he enlisted in the US Air Force in 1967. After basic training in Texas, he spent time with the Air Force in Texas, Pennsylvania, the Philippines, and North Dakota honing his skills as an airplane mechanic. He enjoyed talking about his times and experiences while enlisted. He was honorably discharged in 1971. After returning home, he spent time collecting insurance and farming with Mr. Alton until taking a job at DuPont in Kinston as a machine operator for the next 29 and ONE-HALF years. He never went anywhere after that, that he didn’t run up with someone who either worked at DuPont or knew someone who worked at DuPont, and he would spend hours talking about who else they knew who worked at DuPont. On his days off, he continued to help Mr. Alton look after the cows and the farm. His favorite furry companion, Scooter, would accompany him in the back of the truck while riding around the farm. He spent time with his second companion, Ace, throwing the frisbee from the backyard swing. After retiring from DuPont, he spent a summer on the couch nursing two replaced knees, with Trudy at his beckoning call. Once he was mended, she quickly ran him out of the house to help his friend CW Smith on his nearby farm and befriending anyone who came to pick up seed they had cleaned. After CW’s passing, Larry spent several years at Number One Builders in Mt. Olive working the guard shack, checking out lumber, and making friends with anyone who came through the gate. Once Trudy retired from Tri-County, she decided that she needed him to come home to handle all her chores. Little did she know that he was coming home anyway, to his most prized retirement position as Pepa to his four grandchildren.
While providing for his family, he also volunteered with Pricetown Volunteer Fire Department serving at different times as Assistant Chief and Chaplain, and also as an EMT and Captain with the Seven Springs Volunteer Rescue Squad. He also previously served as President and was a lifetime member of the Wayne County Rescue Squad Association. In addition, he served as maintenance fund treasurer for Zion Methodist Church. In earlier years, he enjoyed helping cook BBQ at fundraisers with the church, fire department, and rescue squad. In his later years, boiled potatoes were his specialty for these events.
However, after retiring, his love for his grandchildren took him from the BBQ’s and potato boilings to the sidelines of the ball field or the stands of the ball court where he cheered them on, no matter what sport there were playing.
After a little breakfast and bible study in the mornings, his shop beside the house was a favorite spot for him to hang around. There, he enjoyed cooking a good fish stew, shrimp stew, or frying a mess of fish. He also hosted many Zion’s Men’s Group meetings there. He loved watching old westerns such as Gunsmoke or the Lone Ranger and listening to old country music while out in his shop. In fact, most weekday afternoons, he could be caught there together with his third four-legged friend, Cierra, watching the back of his eyelids in his favorite old chair or- piddling- as he would call it when Trudy called him to see what he was doing. On Saturday afternoons in the summer, if he and any of the grandchildren got missing, there was a good chance they were riding the golf cart or in the shop eating Nutty Buddy’s, watermelon, or whatever other kind of sweet snack he might have had waiting on them.
Most importantly, Larry worshiped with faith, his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and was a member at Zion Methodist Church in Pricetown. Although we are brokenhearted and deeply miss our husband, Daddy, and Pepa, we know that on Tuesday afternoon, by his faith, that he was healed of his pain and was welcomed into the arms of Jesus and that he RAN to meet his Mama and Daddy, Mr. Alton and Mrs. Lillian, his grandparents, his brother-in-law, Billy Price, and countless other family members and friends who have gone on before him. We know that he is in Heaven looking a good restaurant, planning a fishing trip, and telling them all about his grandbabies. We love you, Daddy and we will see you again one day. LCS
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon in the chapel of Tyndall Funeral Home with Pastor Doug Johnson officiating. Burial will follow the service at Pineveiw Cemetery, Seven Springs. The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon from 4-6pm at the funeral home, and at other times at his home.
Flowers are welcome or donations may be made to Pineview Perpetual Care Cemetery Fund c/o Frazier Hardy 2078 Zion Church Rd. Mt. Olive, NC 28365 or to Zion Methodist Church Building Fund c/o Kathy Tussey 678 Mark Herring Rd. Seven Springs, NC 28578.
