Larry Oakley

W7AB

Born on March 29, 1939 in Long Beach, California, long-time Nevadan resident Larry Estie Oakley passed away in Reno, Nevada on October 20, 2023. A friend, mentor and family man, throughout his life Larry achieved various milestones and left a lasting impact on those he encountered.

He served in the Navy from 1960 to 1964, stationed on Adak Island, Alaska. Afterward, he moved to Reno, where he owned Sierra Electronics in the mid 1960’s. But it was his time as DJ “Larrapin Lar” on KBUB that he truly found his calling. Larry attended UNR from 1968 to 1974, where he earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ed.D. in Special Education. He then served as a psychologist for the State of Nevada.

Larry’s passion for helping others led him to create Camp Lotsafun in 1971 and later establish Special Recreation Services, where he served as the Executive Director for over 20 years. In collaboration with his brother, Gene, he also proudly developed communication sites for TV and radio equipment. An amateur radio operator for over 60 years (W7AB), Larry’s enthusiasm for connecting with others knew no bounds. He also had a deep love for taking his boys, nephews, and friends to Alaska for salmon fishing, fostering unforgettable memories.

Larry was known for his love of freshly-brewed iced tea, frequent visits to the post office, lighthearted silliness, penchant for granting nicknames and ability to hear morse code in the beeps, squeaks and buzzes of the world around him.

Larry is survived by his loving wife, Nancy, his sons Marc and Ross, his daughter-in-law Araitz Ceberio, his grandchildren Emery, Noa, and Leo, his nieces Jeanne and Bessie Oakley, and Michelle Garcia, his nephews Eric and Aaron Werner, Doug Oakley, and Matt Bowman, brothers-in-law Larry Werner and Shane Bowman and sisters-in-law Linda Bowman and Marie Werner, along with close relatives Ellen and Gene Williams. They, along with his faithful German Shepherd, Lola Ruth, will carry on his legacy.


From Larry…

My journey into Amateur radio began in March of 1956 when the FCC was kind enough to send me my Novice license, KN6RBL. Novice licenses were good for one year so I quickly upgraded to Technician License and then the General Class at the FCC office in Los Angeles. My hometown was La Canada, just north of Los Angeles. In 1961 I joined the US Navy and was stationed at Miramar Naval Air Station, then Kodiak and Adak, Alaska. While at Kodiak I operated KL7AWR, and at Adak, KL7AZN. While on Adak, I was a staff announcer/dj for the Armed Forces Radio Service and a Search and Rescue coordinator. During the Viet Nam era, I ran many phone patches to family members from my fellow sailors on Adak Island. Subsequently I passed the Advanced Class, the Amateur Extra, and written and code 20 wpm code test.

Education/Work: I attended Pasadena City College and obtained my AA degree. After I was discharged In 1964, I moved to Reno, NV and was a part-owner of a two way radio shop. In 1968 I enrolled at the University of Nevada, Reno where I received my Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees. I worked for the State of Nevada as Director of the Title 1 Federal Education Program and as a Psychologist serving the chronically mentally ill. I was also Executive Director of a camping program at Lake Tahoe, NV serving special needs children and adults for 25 years. After retirement, I developed a communications site atop 8200′ Peavine Peak northwest of Reno My brother retired and I joined him in developing another communications/broadcast site atop Pond Peak northeast of Reno. I acquired a 50KW FM broadscast license and installed the transmitter on the site. The coverage was fantastic at 8000′, KZSR, 92.9, was later sold to Citadel Broadcasting in Reno.

My Ham Family: My father Ron,(SK) was originally licensed in 1920 as 6JA and NU6JA, 6BOW, later as W6TB and then W6JA/W7JA. My brother Gene (SK) was K6DLP, K7ZLS, W7NUT and W7JA. My XYL, Nancy is W7NAN, Sons Marc, KL7UP and Ross, KL7OO. My brother-in-law Larry, K7LAW, nephew Doug, W9DUG and Niece, Bessie, K7IY.

Ham calls held:W6M, KN6RBL, K6RBL, WA6MMA, WB6SKP, KL7HIN, K7UFD. W7DNX, W7AAA ,ZF2LO, WA7FTF, WA7JWZ, KL7HHZ, WA7KZU, WR7ABN and WA6MNZ.

In the late 1960’s, I founded the Sierra Nevada Amateur Radio Society, Inc, Comstock Amateur Radio Association and the Silver Circle Amateur Radio Society, Inc. in Reno. VE Examiner for W5YI.

My station consists of a Kenwood 590SG, Kenwood TS 830S, Kenwood TS 2000, Ameritron AL572 . Backup radio is a Kenwood TS 450S. For 144/440, Kenwood TM-V71A

DX Engineering, 5 Band HEXX antenna. My thanks to friends, Don,W7FD, David, WA7KQS, Paul, W7HMX and Charlie, N7TJX for help in construction and erection of the antenna. For 40 meters an Alpha Delta DXCC is used.

I enjoy collecting old radios.