Lawrence D. Schulze, 79, of Southbury, Connecticut, passed away after battling prostate cancer for several years on November 6. Larry was born in Danbury in 1942 and moved to Newtown as a child.

He graduated from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, in 1964 and obtained a Bachelor of Divinity in 1968 and a Master of Sacred Theology in 1973 from Andover Newton Theological School in Massachusetts. Larry spent his first career as an American Baptist minister serving churches in Stepney/Monroe, Connecticut, and Sanborn, New York. After leaving the active ministry, Larry became a much beloved bus driver for many years in Southbury and Woodbury, Connecticut, and took great pride in driving “his kids” to school. Larry continued to teach Bible study, play the organ, and preach on occasion at the First Baptist Church of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Larry was a fixture at several local restaurants, calling his friends his “Connecticut family” since his children lived out of state.

Larry was predeceased by his cherished wife, Kathryn Wildman Schulze, in 2012, and is survived by his son, David Mario Schulze; daughter, Margo Schulze-Haugen; four step-children, David Wildman, Donald Wildman, Robynne Wildman Cote, and Michele Bilotta; five grandchildren, David Micheal, Melodie, Kathleen, Molly, and Ryan; seven step-grandchildren, David Leonard, Chet, Cheyenne, Donald Jr, Amanda, Aaron, and Kaylee; and six great-grandchildren, Cayden, Gianne, Leland, Chandler, Thomas, and Damien.

A memorial service celebrating Larry’s life will be held December 18, at 10 am at Honan’s Funeral Home, in Newtown, with Pastor Hopeton Scott of the First Baptist Church of Bridgeport presiding.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, stjude.org, in Larry’s name.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the VITAS hospice staff at St Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Connecticut, for their devoted care.