Larry G. Ehrlich

Larry G. Ehrlich, 84 of Westwood Hills, KS died at his home on October 24, 2023, after a brief but valiant fight against cancer.

A memorial service will be held at the Church of the Resurrection, 5001 W. 137th, Leawood KS 66224 at the Firestone Chapel, Building B on Saturday, November 4th at 1:00 P.M.

Larry was born on March 25, 1939, to Rolland and Mildred (Glynn) Ehrlich on the family farm in Russell, Kansas. After graduating from Russell High school, he continued his education at the University of Kansas where he earned his A.B. from the Department of Speech & Drama in 1961, M.A. in 1962.  He completed his PhD in Communication Studies at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois in 1968. He served two terms as the Chair of the Department of Communication and Journalism for the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he was also Associate Professor and Director of Special Academic Projects. He was awarded the Amoco Award for Excellence for Undergraduate Teaching, 1986 and the Shelby Storck Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 1987. Larry was an engaging teacher, writer and published author, with Fatal Words and Friendly Faces and Effective Speaking and Listening as his major scholarly works.

He was a die-hard Kansas Jayhawk fan and enjoyed many rhetorical battles with his sister Karen, who loves the Kansas State Wildcats. His retirement years were spent founding and managing Rainbow Estate Sales, where he shared that passion for business with his father and brother-in-law. He took pride in the beauty of his garden and the family farm.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Donald Ehrlich, brother-in-law Melvin Caylor and niece Lori Caylor.

Survivors include sisters, Barbara (Tim) Edwards and Karen (Cecil) Witt; partner, David Hingstman, seven nieces and nephews, 9 great nieces and nephews and two great-grandnieces.

Memorial contributions may be made in Larry’s honor to the Trevor Project or to the Battenfeld Scholarship Hall at the University of Kansas (through the KU Endowment website).