In Memory of March Field Air Museum Board Member - Larry Stumpf

Larry was on the Board of Directors for the March Field Air Museum for the last 22 years and was instrumental in helping the direction of the museum over that time and its growth that we enjoy now. Larry will be truly missed.

Lt. Col. Lawrence “Larry” Stumpf
November 5, 1933 – November 2, 2023

Lt. Col. Lawrence NMI Stumpf was born in Fresno California. He attended Fresno State College graduating early with a Bachelor of Arts in Music while a member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).

He met his future wife Phyllis Piper while he was still attending college. He was commissioned on June 7, 1955 and married Phyllis on June 12, 1955. He started his Military Career at March Air Force Base, California with the ROTC Summer camp in 1954, was accepted to pilot training and graduated at Bryan AFB, Texas in a T-33 in Dec. 1956. He graduated
from navigator training for pilots at James Connally AFB, Texas in Aug of 1957 and then was assigned as a pilot of B-47s back at March AFB, CA. Through most of the Cold War he was assigned to many ground and airborne alerts in the B-47s and B-52s with the Strategic Air Command (SAC).

He flew over 134 missions in Vietnam. After years of requesting a transfer to Germany, he was assigned to ‘Plans’ at USAFE Headquarters, Germany in 1972. Larry officially retired in June of 1979 at March AFB with over 5,000 flight hours in 8 different types of aircraft in his 24 years of service. During his military career, Larry received the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, and many others as well.

After retiring from the military, Larry started a career as a Family Financial Planner specializing in helping military personal. Larry was passionate about giving back to the community. He continued volunteering by giving seminars to young military members on the importance of planning financially for their future. He was a member, and held various Board positions, in multiple organizations such as the March Field Air Museum, the LeMay Foundation, the Order of Daedalians, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Military Order of World Wars (MOWW), American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Hope Lutheran Church, Riverside, as well as multiple Committees at Westmont Village, to name just a few. Larry never stopped studying; he received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Fresno State, a Masters of Science in Human Resource Management from the University of Utah, and an Associate of Arts in Real Estate from Riverside Community College. He studied at the USAF Air War College and held an Insurance Broker License, an Investment Adviser License, as well as a HAM Radio License (KJ6BLL).

If you would like to make a donation in Larry's memory please click on the link below.