Thomas R. Mulconry
Memories of Lawrence “Larry” Molnar
Thomas R. Mulconry
On the morning of July 22, 2024, I received news from some of my coworkers that my longtime co-worker and friend, Larry Molnar, had passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Saint Andrews Hospital in Batesville, IN, at the age of 74, surrounded by his family members. This was the first I had heard of such sad news. Larry and I had worked closely together for well over a decade and relied on each other quite often. I would like to share some of my memories of him.
As I recall, Larry and his family were originally from the Cincinnati, OH, area. Larry had spent approximately 24 years in the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division (CID), retiring as a Warrant Officer, and was with the Defense Logistics Agency, Office of the Inspector General, Investigations Division for over 20 years as well. Larry was a superb Special Agent with DLA OIG, and I enjoyed working with him.
Larry had suffered from diabetes for many years. In approximately March 2003, his dear Ranie wife passed away suddenly, and he never got over it. Larry was a very intelligent man. He was very much a student of history, various cultures, world art, literature, and woodworking. He also had a most wonderful sense of humor. Larry and I became in tune with one another due to our close working relationship. Because of his diabetes, I was sensitive to his need to eat something and during various times of the day would check on him to see if he needed a break or needed to get a meal. If we were on the road, as we often were, it was not uncommon for Larry to know the location of some restaurant in the middle of nowhere as he had eaten in the place at some distant time in the past and remembered it.
Larry took responsibility for himself. For example, when I first met and worked with Larry, he was a below average pistol shot. I recommended he take some firearms marksmanship classes on his own, and Larry did just that. Larry subsequently bought himself a couple of pistols and went to local firing ranges religiously, eventually became a most excellent pistol shot.
Despite his diabetes and his need for insulin, Larry, in his off-duty hours, was a coinsure of good food, excellent tobacco and fine spirits. Although such indulgences reportedly made his life worth living, such factors may also have contributed to his demise.
Larry loved his children and grandchildren and often spoke of them to me and bragged about them at every opportunity as he was very proud of them. Larry was a loyal and dedicated worker and a good and decent man. In his wake he leaves numerous children and grandchildren and a myriad of friends, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
In deepest sympathy,
Tom and Alice Mulconry
Battle Creek, MI
