Larry Paul Zerby passed away October 18, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. He was born July 18, 1952 in Clinton, Oklahoma to William Paul Zerby and Janis M. Goeringer.
Larry and Debby met at Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Oklahoma and were married on December 24, 1970. Larry graduated with a Master of Architecture from the University of Oklahoma in 1976. During their college years, Larry and Debby had four wonderful children that were their pride and joy.
After becoming a licensed Architect in Oklahoma and Texas, Larry and his family moved to Dallas, Texas in 1985. Larry became the Director of Design and Construction for the Dallas Independent School District. He supervised work on over 300 buildings and schools and retired from DISD in 2017.
Larry was able to travel many places around the U.S. and the world. He enjoyed seeing the many architectural sites all around Europe that he had studied while in college. Larry also traveled with extended family to Korea, Japan, China, and many other sites. He enjoyed going on mission trips to Mexico with the dental school, as well as the Czech Republic with his friends from First United Methodist Church in Richardson.
The most inspiring and meaningful place that Larry traveled to was Israel with EndTime Ministries. He visited Jerusalem where he walked the streets that Jesus walked. Seeing the Garden of Gethsemane, the Sea of Galilee, and Jesus’ tomb in person was incredibly significant in his Christian faith. While there, he was baptized in the Jordan River, a deeply moving experience.
Larry’s pride and joy in his final years was spending time with his children and grandchildren. He stayed busy with babysitting, taking grandchildren to activities, and rarely missed a game!
He enjoyed his relationship with God and his family. He looked on the bright side every day of his life.
Larry is survived by his wife, Deborah Sue Deen Zerby; son, William Isaac Zerby DDS and wife, Shannon Markoff and two daughters, Brenna Nicole and Angelina Rhea; son, Dustin Paul Zerby, licensed architect, and wife, Angela Humes and two children, Nathan Robert and Brooke Elyse; daughter, Ashli Rhea Zerby MD and husband, Jared Parsons and three children, Avery Elizabeth, Nicholas Ryder, and Jacob Gunnar; daughter, Candice Sue Zerby DDS and husband, Cliff Hutcheson and three daughters, Abigail Sue, Audrey Grace, and Ava Hope.
He was preceded in death by his father, William Paul Zerby.
A funeral service will be held 12:00 p.m. Monday, October 23, 2023 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013. The service will also be live streamed at TJMfuneral.com on Larry’s obituary page by clicking on the following link: https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/larry-paul-zerby. After the service, the recorded live stream will be available for viewing at the same link location. Following the service, a procession will make its way to Ridgeview Memorial Park for a committal service.
The family will receive friends during a visitation on Sunday evening from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home.