Larry Raymond Baum passed away on December 11, 2023, at the age of 86 due to surgical complications.
Larry was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, the son of Lawrence and Ethel Baum. His father, originally from the Hastings area, had gone to Detroit to seek work during the depression and found employment at the Packard Motor Car Company.
At the end of World War II, he returned to Hastings with his family who purchased a farm home in the area. Larry was in the fourth grade at the time and attended the Little Brick Schoolhouse until entering high school in the ninth grade.
During his years at Hastings High School, he participated in football and track and held the West Central League record for high hurdles for decades. It was there that he met his future wife, Earlene McMullin. They dated during their high school years but went their separate ways after graduation. Larry enlisted in the US Air Force for four years, and Earlene entered Albion College. They re-established their relationship shortly thereafter and married in 1956.
After being discharged from the military in 1959, Larry joined the family business, Hastings Fiber Glass Products, starting out working in production and sales and going on to become president of the company from 1981 until his retirement in 1999. He then had some time to play golf and had bragging rites for having made three holes-in-one over a three-year period.
In the earlier years of his life, Larry was a member of the Lion’s Club, the Hastings Flying Club, and the Hastings Masonic Lodge. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner as well.
Larry grew up around antique and classic cars during his teenage years, when his dad was restoring a 1914 Apperson Jack Rabbit. However, as the years went by, Larry became more interested in the classic cars of 1950 and beyond, and became actively involved with the Gilmore Car Museum, serving on many board positions and making numerous donations to expand or enhance their facilities.
Larry was also greatly motivated to do what he could to make improvements to the Hastings Schools and community. He wanted every child to have the opportunity to participate in sports, and he and Earlene covered all the costs to the students as well as paying for improvements to school facilities.
Larry’s vision was to make Hastings a “go-to” community, and as a part of that, his involvement and financial support made the Thornapple Plaza possible. He and Earlene also contributed to local healthcare needs, such as the dialysis center and the new hospital surgical center. He supported many other causes over the years as well. Larry loved his community and when he saw a need, he did what was necessary to fulfil it.
Larry’s parents, Lawrence and Ethel Baum, his sisters, Beatrice Baum and Katherine Stolz, all preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Earlene, his children Karen (Tim) Pederson, David (Susie) Baum, and Kevin (Tamara) Baum. Larry’s surviving grandchildren are Jason (Becky) Baum, Brian (Tauri) Baum, Nicholas Baum, Michelle Baum, Kayla Baum, Rachel (Ryne) LaRowe and great-granddaughter Talia LaRowe. A niece and nephew, Denise and Gary Stolz also survive him.
There will be a private family service. A public celebration of Larry’s life is being planned to be held in January. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Larry can be made to the First Presbyterian Church (https://www.firstchurchhastings.org/give) or the Gilmore Car Museum (https://gilmorecarmuseum.org/support/donate). Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home.
