St. George, Utah - Laurence Theodore Eck, Sr. age 97, passed away November 6, 2014 in St. George, Utah. He was born June 3, 1917 in Anaconda, Montana to Theodore and Anna Eck. He married Ann G. Steen of Butte, Montana on October 25, 1941 in Butte and they had two children: son Laurence T. Eck, Jr. of Oxnard, California and daughter Karen Helen Banta of Los Gatos, California. Larry graduated in Metallurgical Engineering from Montana School of Mines (now Montana Tech) in Butte and upon graduation in 1940 worked for International Smelting and Refining Co. Raritan Copper Works during World War II, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Larry was employed in the Metallurgical and Safety Engineering disciplines, respectively. Larry's work took him from the east coast to the west coast, with a 3-year stop in a nickel-copper-cobalt refinery in Missouri in between. He was at the cutting edge of technology in the commercial development of titanium metal in Henderson, Nevada and later in the nuclear rocket engine space program at the Nevada Test Site. A second career in safety took him to Seattle Washington for 9 years as an operations auditor for the OSHA Regional Office. He also had long membership in the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers along with serving as an officer in local chapters in the Las Vegas and Seattle areas. Larry especially enjoyed being with his loving wife Ann (deceased in 1988) and visiting with his family consisting of daughter Karen and son-in-law Don Banta and two grandchildren Jennifer and Alan; also with son Larry and daughter-in-law Beverly Ann, all in California. He also enjoyed family gatherings and the association of close friends. He was especially fond of great grand-daughters Nicole Michelle and Mya Ann who will miss their Great PopPop very much. Upon retirement Larry and Ann had the time to complete a hide-away cabin at Woodland Retreat Subdivision on Kolob Mountain, where they spent enjoyable visits with relatives fishing and relaxing. Larry's affiliations included membership in New Promise Lutheran Church in St. George. In the St. George community, Larry was helpful as a volunteer with the Washington County Historical Society in the restoration of the Pioneer Courthouse for over eight years and serving as a Tour Guide for the Utah Centennial Celebration local project "Historical St. George ---LIVE" in the Summer of 1996. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at the New Promise Lutheran Church, 244 S. Valley View Drive, St. George, Utah. A visitation will be held prior to services on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at the church. Memorial services will be held at the Family Plot in the Lower Hill Cemetery, Anaconda, Montana with the Interment Service to be under the Pastor of Hope Lutheran Church, where Larry will join his wife Ann, whose ashes were interred on July 16, 1988. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, 435-673-4221. Thanks are extended for the excellent care given by Intermountain Senior Care Hospice and the staff at The Meadows. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.