Lawrence F. McIntyre short history

January 2, 2013 is Lawrence Francis McIntyre's 100th birthday.  In celebration of his centennial, some bits of information about him, a few written by his wife, Helen, and photos are presented.

Lawrence grew up on the Westside of Chicago, the second oldest of five children born of Ellen Walsh and Thomas J. McIntyre.  He attended Resurrection grammar school and St. Mel high school.  As a youth, he sold newspapers at the corner of Laramie and Madison.  Helen remembers him as a young boy at the newspaper stand: "I would walk by on my way to the Jewel and he would always say 'Hello'". 

When she was asked to describe what Larry was like when she met him again in her teens, she wrote "Typically Irish, nice looking, full of fun, great personality but actually too short for me but I didn't care after awhile.  He had the prettiest blue Irish eyes, long black lashes, [and] black curly hair."

Helen tells of the proposal: "One night I was over at Larry's house at 4737 W. Gladys ave.  I guess his Mother had invited me over for dinner.  It was a warm evening so we sat out on the small porch outside the living room. It was on the second floor.  He kissed me a few times then said he wanted to marry me only he wasn't making enough money at the moment but he would work hard and get ahead and then we'd be married."

Larry and Helen married at St. Thomas Aquinas Church on November 26, 1937 when he was 24 and she was 23.   They went to Lake Lawn Lodge for a few days after the wedding for a short honeymoon.  Their first apartment was a furnished apartment located at 5015 W. Washington Boulevard.

In 1938 their first child, Laurence Francis was born and in 1946, their daughter, Elaine Marie was born.

Larry had many jobs, but the two he spent his most years at were with Cruver Manufacturing Company and Weil Pump. His children were the recipients of many wonderful plastic toys from Cruver including small plastic cowboys and Indians, plastic playing cards and dice in all sizes.

He retired from Weil Pump twice.