Larry Battles

Larry W. Battles, 74, passed away on August 15, 2007, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Blue Springs, Missouri. Larry was born to Lorene and Enoch Battles on December 14, 1932. He was a 1950 graduate of Halls Memorial High School in Buckner, Missouri, where he lived most of his life. At the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving on active duty for 2 years and serving in the Reserves until 1960. In 1957, Larry earned a degree in math and physics from Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, Missouri. Larry married Donna Gweneth Bergschneider on November 8, 1957. Larry started his career as a civil engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation. In 1965, he began his 30 years of service with Massman Construction Company, working as a project engineer, project superintendent, and estimator on every type of work Massman is known to do.
Upon his retirement in 1995, Larry and his wife Donna traveled extensively throughout the United States and around the world, including trips to Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand, and cruises in the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal. Larry also was actively involved in the Buckner community, with past service on the Board of the First Christian Church of Buckner and on the Pleasant Valley Estates Senior Citizens Board. He served on City of Buckner’s Planning and Zoning Commission from 1996 to 1997, as Chairman of the Commission and Flood Plain Administrator from 1996 to 1997, and as an Alderman for Ward 1 from 1997 to 2005. He also volunteered his time and talents to the Buckner Cemetery Board. Larry is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Donna, by his son and daughter-in-law, Darin and Karen Battles of Dahlonega, Georgia, and by his daughter, Lara Battles of Alexandria, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church of Buckner.