Marion L. Denham

DENHAM, Marion Lawrence. Loving husband of the late Beulah F. Denham (nee Spears). Devoted father of Bobby (Linda) Denham, Sheila Wallace, Rhonda (Joe) Brockman, Sharon (Paul) Furnish and special family friend “adopted daughter” April Shinkle. Cherished Papaw of Rachel (Shannon Perez) Wheeler, Erica (Josh) Osborne, Corey (Allison) Denham, Anthony (Stacy) Wallace, Monica Griffin, Jason (Katlyn) Griffin and Ryan Furnish. Great-Papaw of Addison, Elliott, Madelynn, Carolynn, Madison, Mya, Marin, Tristan, Jackson and Ruby. Dear brother of Zelma, Obie, Ray, Gene, Etta, Dewey, Mary Rose and Ruth (all previously deceased). Beloved uncle of numerous nieces and nephews. Passed away peacefully with family by his side January 10, 2025 at the age of 92. 

Lawrence (called Larry by his workmates and Hickory by many others) was born November 7, 1932 in Nancy, Kentucky. Living on a farm with his parents, Marion and Valara Denham, and his 8 brothers and sisters, the “youngest” baby of the family learned the value of hard work early in life. He joined the Navy in 1951 and served for four years during the Korean war. He married Beulah Faye Spears on June 28, 1952. After four years of service in the Navy, they moved to Dayton, Ohio and then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1961. He was an electrician by trade and worked hard to support his family. Over the years, he worked for Cincinnati Galvanizing, General Air Systems, Ridemco and Ingersoll Rand from where he retired in 2004. Lawrence was also a 70-year member of the Masons, joining the Sievers Lodge #491 in Nancy, Kentucky on June 22, 1954.

Lawrence loved a lot of things, including fishing and growing good food in his big garden, but there was nothing that was more important to him than his family– his kids, but especially his grandbabies and great grandbabies. He loved each of them as if they were the most special person on earth. He loved to ask the great grandbabies, “Do you know why you’re so pretty?" And then he would tell them, ”Because this Papaw ain’t got no ugly grandbabies!" He was a proud Dad and Papaw, traveling many miles over the years supporting his children, grandbabies and great grandbabies attending numerous football, softball, baseball, soccer and volleyball games, and a military graduation. He also loved the Reds and spent a special week at Reds Spring Training in Arizona with his son, Bobby and grandson, Corey, in Spring 2020.

Visitation will take place at the Metropolitan Harvest Church of God, 8111 Woodbine Avenue, Cincinnati OH 45216, on Thursday, January 16th from 10AM until the Funeral Service at 12 Noon. He will be laid to rest with Beulah at Dayton National Cemetery on Friday, January 17th.