Dr. Larry Joe Reynolds

Larry Reynolds passed away peacefully on March 29, 2022 at the age of 79. He is survived by his wife of 55 years Alice (A.B.) Reynolds; son Ryan Scott and his wife Julie; daughter Laura Chanel and her fiance Ernest, and grandchildren Gabriel and Lyric; many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents Elmer J. (EJ) and Francis Reynolds, brothers James and Donald.

Larry was born on July 18th, 1942 in Sedalia, MO. He attended Clayton High School in St. Louis and received both his BS and MA in Education from Washington University in Missouri. He met and married his wife in St. Louis in December of 1966, served honorably in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1967-1969, and completed his PhD upon his return at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon.

Larry was a deeply caring, bright, fun-loving as a teacher, researcher, graduate assistant, evaluator in Public School Districts in St. Louis, Tacoma, WA, and Minneapolis, MN. He later became Headmaster and co-founder of The Woods Academy, an innovative private, non-parochial K-8 school in Maple Plain, MN and on the Faculty of Capella University in Minneapolis, MN. His passion for life-long learning was expressed through wooden bird decoys, along with teaching a carving class at the Minnetonka Art Center for over 25 years.

As an educator, professor, artist, historian, husband, father, favorite-uncle, and friend, he was deeply loved by all. Larrry’s kindness, wit, intelligence, and dedication to his students and learning touched hearts and was a positive life-changing force to thousands of students over the years. He was passionate about American history, archeology, literature, genealogy, wood-carving, the family farm, telling a good story, watching spaghetti westerns, and an occasional chocolate eclair or old-fashioned donut.

Advice like “everyone should get a second chance”, “ask people questions about themselves”, and “always overtip breakfast waitresses” highlighted his generosity to those around him. The world is a better place because he was in it. He is most deeply and dearly missed.

A memorial will be planned for sometime this summer. Charitable donations, in lieu of flowers, to support Veterans organizations or the people of Ukraine are greatly appreciated.

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