Larry Eli Tolpi

Larry Eli Tolpi, age 84, beloved husband, father and doting grandfather passed away on Thursday evening, January 30, 2025, in his St. George home with his loving eternal companion, Charlene, and his son David by his side.

Larry was born June 29, 1940, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Wilfred and Berniece Tolpi of Shelley. He grew up and attended schools in Shelley and graduated from Shelley High School in 1958. That Fall, Larry attended Ricks College where he participated in and was elected president of the Alpha Delta Chapter of Lamba Delta Sigma his sophomore year. Later that year, he graduated with an Associate Degree in Science and Mathematics.

Larry was married to Charlene Johnson in the Idaho Falls Temple on September 9, 1960. Within a week of their marriage, he was attending the University of Utah where he graduated in June 1963 earning a BS in Chemical Engineering. While attending the university, Larry served as editor-in-chief of the EngineeringSchool’s magazine the “Utechnic”.

After graduation, Larry was hired by the DuPont Company in Richmond, VA, where he worked in various management positions including, world-wide health and safety manager. While working for DuPont, he and his family lived in Richmond, Niagara Falls, NY and Wilmington, NC. He worked 40 years for DuPont while at the same time being actively engaged in service to church and community.

This honorable, hardworking man was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and enriched his life and the lives of others by serving in various church assignments including Bishop (Wilmington, NC. and Richmond, VA), called and ordained a Seventy by Ezra Taft Benson, called and ordained Stake President of the Richmond, VA Stake by Bruce R. McConkie; he served as Richmond Virginia Mission President’s Counselor, and Central Virginia’s Public Affairs Chairman. Larry, also, worked as an ordinance worker in the Washington, D.C. Temple. During this time, he found his passion and fulfillment in promoting service and brotherhood both within and outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

He worked tirelessly bringing acceptance and recognition to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Virginia by serving on the following Board of Directors: Virginia Council of Churches, National Conference of Christian and Jews, Richmond’s Interfaith Council, the Governor’s Board for the Homeless and on America’s First Freedom Council fostering religious freedom throughout the world. In 1989, he received the J.C. Penney Community Service Award along with The Governor’s Award for Volunteer Excellence while addressing the problems of bigotry and homelessness in Central Virginia. A highlight during this time was when Vice President, Dan Quayle, came to Richmond to meet with Larry and discuss how his homeless program was implemented allowing the homeless to use the local Latter-Day Saint cannery to can donated apples for their own use. This pioneering effort, the first in the LDS Church, opened LDS canneries throughout the world for similar projects. As a result of his leadership and commitment to humanitarian efforts, Larry received the “1998 Virginian of the Year Award” sponsored by the National Conference of Christian and Jews. Interfaith outreach was his focus – helping others accept that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worships and recognizes Jesus Christ as its Savior and Redeemer. His efforts to promote understanding and respect for all races, religions, and cultures will be long remembered by family, friends, and community.

After retirement in 2003, Charlene and Larry moved to St. George where they were called to serve a 23- month church mission to Hawaii’s Polynesian Cultural Center on the island of Oahu where Larry worked at improving the PCC’s profitability. Larry later served over ten years as an ordinance worker in the St. George Temple, as high priest group leader, and a family history consultant.

Larry enjoyed hiking Utah trails, family history, golf, traveling, good music and pickle ball. Also, he enjoyed playing cards with friends and family, great conversations, and anything that brought family and friends together. Larry loved and appreciated this country and the freedoms it brought into his life; however, his greatest love and devotion went to his family and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Larry is survived by his loving wife, Charlene (Shawn), and three children: Jennifer Tolpi (Brett) Behling and Elizabeth Tolpi (John) Parmley both daughters live in San Diego, CA and David Tolpi of St. George. He was the proud grandfather of five grandchildren who blessed his life: Amanda Behling, Tanner (Dominque) Behling, Ethan (Anwen) Parmley, Zane (Ella) Parmley, and Claire Parmley. He has one sister Kathleen Tolpi (Tom Loudenslager, deceased) of Michigan and one brother, Gerald Lynn Tolpi, deceased, (Pat) of Louisiana.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Indian Hills Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1282 West 500 South Circle, St. George. Interment will be at Tonaquint Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Humanitarian Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Arrangements have been made under the direction of McMillan Mortuary. Friends and family are invited to sign Larry’s guest book both at the McMillan Mortuary website and chapel.

“I will never forget the moment your heart stopped, and mine kept beating”. Angela Mille

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