Larry "Laughing Larry" Vance Kelton

Larry Vance Kelton, 67, of Mariposa Street, passed away, Saturday, April 12, 2014 at his home. Visitation will be 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home and will continue Wednesday, April 23, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Funeral Services are scheduled for 2:00 PM, Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home Chapel with Silver Robles officiating. Carlsbad Veteran's Honor Guard will provide military honors. Interment will follow in Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Larry Vance Kelton was born to Edward Spencer "E.S." and Isadore "Frankie" (Edwards) Kelton, Jr. on April 22, 1946 in Carlsbad, NM. He graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1965. He was married and had two sons: Brandon Vance Kelton and Brent Vernon Kelton. In 1973 he married the love of his life, Bonnie Sue Fennell and became DAD to Annette, David, Shane, Jonathan and Joey. In November of 1973 he began his electrical apprenticeship in the IBEW. He graduated from the program and became a highly commended journeyman electrician in Carlsbad in 1977. He worked in Carlsbad until 1980 when he became a traveling construction journeyman electrician who worked in Louisiana, San Francisco and other places in California, Las Vegas, Reno and other places in Nevada, Harvard University in Boston, Kansas City, Florida, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington, Colorado, Kansas, Texas and New Mexico. Even though he was an only child, "Laughing Larry" met and found more brothers and sisters than he could imagine through his work. He met the best people who are still friends today. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Brandon Vance Kelton; his father and mother-in-law, Lenard and Winona Fennell and his brother and sister-in-law, Johnny and Louise Stuart; grandson, Bryan Callicoat. Survivors include the love of his life, Bonnie Sue Kelton; his children and their families: Brent Kelton and Ashley, Annette Hardin and Warren, David Blair and Irish, Shane Blair, Jonathan Blair and Renee, Joseph Blair and Debbie Harris; grandchildren: Riley and Barrett Kelton, Macray and Casen Kelton, Aaron, Rhiannon, Teddy and Olivia Hardin, Amber and Chelsea Blair, Prari Blair and Jason Casteel and Duv Finkemeier and Karl, Rachel Blair Horton and Scott, Micah and Jordan Callicoat, Danielle Callicoat; great-grandchildren: Andrew, Penelope, Cheyenne, Sonya Horton, MaKaighlah and Ryker Finkemeier, Logan David Ramirez, Micah Riley Callicoat, Nikkay Callicoat; nieces: Winona Stuart Smith, Ramona Stuart Kilpatrick; nephew: John Leonard Stuart and their families. Pallbearers will be Brent Kelton, David, Shane, Jonathan and Joey Blair and Micah Callicoat. Honorary pallbearers are Carl Vinka, Aaron Hardin and Teddy Hardin. Memorial contributions may be made to a diabetes or cancer center of the donor's choice. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.