Lawrence Joseph Dietrich, lovingly known as Larry, passed away on October 26, 2026.  He was born on October 31, 1947, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Vincent and Katherine Dietrich, who preceded him in death.  Larry will be remembered for his dedication to his work, his faith, his service to others, and the many friendships he formed throughout his life.

In 1978, Larry came to Houston to work for And All, Inc., where he remained until 1987. He then began a distinguished career in the space industry, working for NASA contractors from 1987 until his retirement in 2017. During those years, he contributed to the Space Shuttle Program and was the recipient of the prestigious Silver Snoopy Award, an honor presented by NASA astronauts to recognize exceptional contributions to flight safety and mission success.  He also received many other accolades in recognition of his dedicated service.

Larry was active in his faith community at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Nassau Bay, Texas, a parish with longstanding ties to the NASA area. He was an usher, attended Bible Studies and Faith Formation Classes, helped with the Out of This World Festival and from 1982 to 1986, he assisted the Youth Minister, Sara Fontana, in starting a Clown Ministry.  In that ministry he was fondly known as Motley the Clown. During that same time period he became active in the Young Adult Group.  The members of that group became lifelong friends who continued to visit him at Baywind every month.

Outside of work and church, Larry was a man of many interests and talents.  He was a Ham Radio Operator from 1957 to 2022, a model railroad enthusiast, and someone who found joy in a wide variety of hobbies.Larry lived in his home in Webster, Texas, for many years. As his health declined, he sold the house and moved to Regal Estates Assisted Living in 2020. When he required additional care, he moved to Baywind Village Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in 2022. At Baywind, Larry became a well-loved resident and served as president of the Resident Council. He enthusiastically participated in the community’s activities, especially jigsaw puzzles, Mexican Train, and balloon volleyball. He deeply appreciated the care he received from everyone at Baywind.Larry is survived by his siblings, Gregory, Edward (Debra), Stephen (Rhea), Elizabeth, Judith and many nephews, nieces and cousins.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 20, 2026, at 10:30am at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 18326 Point Lookout, Houston, TX 77058.  In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Giving/FD-596 .