Lawrence Caston Paddock

Published 10:57 am Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Lawrence “Larry” Caston Paddock, beloved husband, father, brother, and respected member of the community, passed away peacefully in Houston, Texas at Buckner Parkway Place on July 20, 2023, at the age of 83. He leaves behind a legacy of love, compassion, and dedication that will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Larry was born April 18, 1940, in Stillwater, Oklahoma to Alfred H . Paddock and Olivia Caston Paddock. The family moved to Bogalusa, Louisiana where he honed his love for sports as a Bogalusa Basketball team player. He attended Louisiana State University, graduating in 1962 with a B. S. in Business Administration. While at LSU he demonstrated his leadership as a Sigma Chi. He acted as rush chairman, pledge trainer, consul, and president of the Gamma Iota Chapter. “I’ve always marveled at the tremendous people I’ve been lucky enough to know and learn from in the brotherhood”. (L. Paddock, 2003). He stayed active and continued to serve his brothers throughout his lifetime, hosting numerous Alumni events at his home at The Bluffs on Thompson Creek, St. Francisville, Louisiana, and serving twice as president of the Sigma Chi Baton Rouge Alumni group.

After graduation he went through the Air Force Officer Training School program and received his commission as a Distinguished Graduate. He served five years of duty at Craig and Lackland Airforce Bases’ before starting his professional career. After six years at Merrill Lynch, he spent ten years managing money at Fidelity National Bank and a large state pension fund, The Teachers Retirement System. After which he moved the family to Tacoma Washington to join the Frank Russell Investment Management Company, where he retired as Head of National Sales in 1999 after the company was sold to Northwestern Life Insurance Company. He then returned to his home state of Louisiana where he co-founded the Thompson Creek Wealth Management company with his eldest son, Lawrence “Lance” Paddock, Jr.

Aside from his day job, he also served as Co-Chairman of the Louisiana Republican Research and Issues Committee which produced its first legislative agenda in the early 1970’s. He also served as Finance Chairman for Henson Moore’s successful Congressional campaign in 1974. Throughout his career, his exceptional work ethic and natural leadership skills earned him the respect of his colleagues and peers alike. He was especially known for his commitment to doing the right things in the right way, his unwavering integrity, and his passion for giving back to the country, communities, and clients he served.

Beyond his professional life, Larry was a devoted family man. He met his wife, Verin “Ginger” Grady (Chi Omega 1964) and they embarked on a journey of love and companionship for 59 years. He often told people that “marrying Ginger was the best thing I ever did”. Larry was a loving and supportive father to his five children and eight grandchildren, instilling in them the values of kindness, perseverance, and the importance of education and serving others.

Larry had a deep-rooted passion for the communities he lived in. From Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Tacoma, Washington, he left a lasting impact on the people he touched. He believed in the power of giving back and served as an active volunteer and donor for numerous charitable organizations. There was no place more deeply rooted in his heart than his hometown Bogalusa. In 1999 he established the Fund for Bogalusa to enhance the quality of life for all Bogalusa residents now and for future generations to come. The fund provides scholarships to Bogalusa High School graduates, aids local human service programs and projects, and supports economic development initiatives.

He is survived by his wife Ginger; children, Lawrence “Lance” (wife Robyn) Paddock of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Tracy Paddock (husband Cyrus) Beam, Houston, Texas; Scott Grady Paddock, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Kelly Paddock (husband Branden) Kempt, New Orleans, Louisiana; Brett Harlan Paddock, Plano, Texas; and brother, Alfred, “Pat” (wife Theresa) Paddock of Huntsville, Alabama.

A celebration of life will be held at the Elizabeth Sullivan Memorial United Methodist Church in Bogalusa Louisiana, on September 23, 2023 @ 10:00am followed by a luncheon in Fellowship Hall. Ryan Seals, W. Henson Moore, Mike Breland, and DA Henley will be leading the commemoratory celebration.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Fund for Bogalusa (www.northshorefoundation.org/fund-for-bogalusa) or Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas (www.jahouston.org) in his honor. May his soul rest in eternal peace and his memory be a blessing to us all.