Dr. Larry Witmer

Dr. Larry Frank Witmer of Fayetteville, PA passed away peacefully Tuesday, January 9, 2024, lovingly surrounded by family. Born on July 15, 1949 to the late Claude and Shirley Witmer, Larry, commonly known as Doc Witmer, was a State College, PA native and graduate of State College High School in 1967 and a 1970 graduate of Penn State University. He was a true blue fan of PSU and took great pride in his education and alma mater.

Larry was quite the story teller, and many of those stories were of his time growing up in State College and attending Penn State University. A lover of words, jokes, and stories, Doc Witmer was never short on any of them. It was rare to engage in conversation with Doc without a legendary story, sarcastic remark, or quick-witted quip. It was often hard to tell if he was truthful or pulling a leg, and Larry enjoyed every second of it.

Larry later attended Temple University where he graduated with his degree in Dental Surgery in 1974. Known as the ‘Painless Dentist,’ he was slick with a needle and meticulous in his work. Doc loved being a dentist, but he loved his patients more. His relationships with them were genuine and he often had to be reminded to stop talking and see his other patients! He was loved by his patients not just because he was a brilliant dentist, but because he was a good human- evidenced by the love and loyalty of his valued employees and a back room counter that was always filled with his patients’ baked goods.

Larry had many unique interests and hobbies, including aviation, sweet cars, golf, cooking, going to the shooting range, true crime, poker, and traveling to Jamaica in February. He had eclectic taste in music and enjoyed the theater and arts. He earned his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying his plane to State College on weekends, often letting his daughters take control of the plane. He could speak for hours on G-force, detailing exactly what the pilot was feeling and experiencing at every inch of incline. He loved a great performance and was a season ticket holder at Totem Pole Playhouse for decades. He was fascinated by Cirque du Soleil and more recently he enjoyed attending his granddaughter’s play performances.

In 1975, Larry earned the name ‘Dad.’ He was the dad who could always be counted on for medical and cooking advice, math help, and any other random question for which only he would have an answer. His brain stored more useless knowledge than could be imagined, and he made good use of it! He always answered a question with a question, along with a big, toothy, cheesy smile. His dad jokes were legendary and will continue to be passed on for generations.

Larry was a member of the Chambersburg Country Club for many years and he could play a mean round of golf. He analyzed the science behind the game and every swing and had quite the golf swing himself. He greatly enjoyed playing many rounds over the years with his wife, Linda. He made it known to his future son-in-law, another avid golfer, that if he wanted to cancel the wedding they could still play golf together! His sense of humor was a defining characteristic and drew people to him with ease.

In his later years, what Larry enjoyed most was quiet evenings at home. He enjoyed spending time with his wife, Linda, whom he married in 2020, and dog, Joey aka The Boy. He found joy in family movie nights with Linda and Michele and summer afternoons chatting with his daughters and watching his grandkids splash around in the pool. His grandkids adored him and it’s safe to say his favorite nickname was ‘Papa Doc.’

Larry is survived by his wife, Linda Ericson, daughters, Jennifer Andersen (Adam), Annisa Meyers (Cory), and Becky Leonard (Barry), his step-daughter, Michele Beecher (Kevin), and his sisters Sandy Hoy (Dan) and Deb Wagner (Ron) and their families. Papa Doc was also blessed with ten beautiful grandchildren who inherited his charm, intelligence, quick-wit, and sense of humor. He would also like it mentioned that they inherited his stunning good looks. Aidan, Ryan, Sasha, Clara, Karianna, Dixon, Emerson, Jayce, Tessa, and Camden were a source of immense pride for Papa Doc, and many of his patients were kept up to speed with all of their talents and accomplishments.

Doc Witmer was a soft soul with a big heart for animals and the underdog. He quietly gave generously to several organizations that were close to his heart.

A public visitation will be held on Monday, January 15, 2024 from 9:30 AM until 11:30 AM, at Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home, 333 Falling Spring Rd, Chambersburg.
In lieu of flowers, he would have had tremendous gratitude for any donations made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or Tunnel to Towers.