Larry DuPre

Larry Douglas DuPre passed away in Gainesville, Florida on December 31, 2022, at age 79, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Born in Eastman, GA, in 1943, Larry was the firstborn son of Bill and Dorothy Dupree. Though legally given the name Larry, his family began calling him Billy in honor of his father who was fighting overseas in World War II. Larry used to say he didn’t learn his real name until his kindergarten teacher called it out, and he glanced around the room wondering, “Who is Larry DuPre?”

After graduating from high school in Thomaston, GA, Larry joined the Air Force and served in both the United States and Europe. He was stationed in Alaska when he received an honorable discharge, and he remained there several years. He became an Air Traffic Controller, worked on the Aleutian Chain and also spent several weeks each summer as the Captain of a fishing boat.

His career took him all over North America, including North Carolina, Florida and Puerto Rico. and during this time he also received his Bachelor’s Degree, as well as several TCC certifications from the University of Florida. Upon his departure from the Federal Aviation Administration, he began working in the field of Human Resources. He was the Personnel Director for the City of Tamarac and upon moving to Denver, Colorado, became Personnel Director for the Regional Transportation District of Central Colorado. 

He then had the unique opportunity to become an Air Traffic Controller for a second time, and at an age when most Controllers had retired, he accepted the offer and was re-hired by the FAA. He  moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he controlled air traffic in the Tower at Luis Munoz Marin Airport in Carolina, PR. After several years, due to health concerns, he transferred to the Gainesville, Florida Flight Service Department where he worked until his retirement. 

He was active in PATCO, the Air Traffic Controller’s Union, and became the Union Representative in several locations. While in San Juan, he also became the Union Representative for NATCA (the National Air Traffic Controllers Association), and upon moving to Gainesville he became the Union Representative for NAATS (National Association of Air Traffic Specialists).

Larry was passionate about writing and music. He was modest about his musical ability, yet he had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of music across many genres, and  spent hours compiling personalized playlists for friends and family. His ability to tell a story was unparalleled. He could captivate your attention like one of his most admired authors, Ernest Hemmingway. He was a genuinely talented writer, and he acquired a large internet following. He wrote across genres, his subject matter ranging from humor to politics, to very personal and deeply thoughtful topics. 

Larry met the love of his life and his eventual wife, Sharron, in high school. Larry’s intelligence, thoughtfulness, and lifelong belief in the magic of love made him impossible to resist. Although for a time their lives diverged due to college and careers, in 1995 they reconnected and the high school sweethearts finally married.

Larry never feared taking chances in love or in life. He and Sharron learned to ski and snorkel in their fifties–a time when many people retire from those sports. He was the kind of guy who would try anything within reason if it captured his interest.  And no remembrance of Larry would be complete without mentioning his love for the University of Florida’s Gators football team. 

He is survived by his wife Sharron Dupree, his sister Phyllis Karlin, his five children: Don Brock, Michelle Dupree, Lance DuPre, Kimberly DuPre Thompson, and Larry DuPre Jr., ten Grandchildren and four Great-Grandchildren. His brother Stanley Dupree preceded him in death.

His legacy will carry on through his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, reminding us all to live fearlessly and to never stop believing that we can create magic. 

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to

Gainesville Elks Lodge #990

2424 NW 23rd Blvd.

Gainesville, FL 32605