Postmaster Barney Farley, right, presents a letter and Service Award to Larry Whetsel for his 28 years of service.

Larry Whetsel delivers his last piece of mail.

Larry Whetsel has retired from the United States Postal Service after 28 years of service in Fairfax. He carried his last mail route Thursday, October 31, 2019.

Leona Ray hired Larry (Larry says, thank you, Leona!) as a substitute rural carrier October 17, 1992, and served in that capacity until 2003. He then got the rural route and served as the rural carrier until last Thursday.

Larry said he’s really going to miss his customers. “I’ve been very privileged to serve my postal customers for all those years and I really appreciate everything everyone has done to help me. A special thanks goes out to my employee friends for making my retirement party so great!” Larry said. Larry said he greatly appreciates both Barney Farley and Lori Smith, who Larry has worked with for many years.

Larry had lived in Craig, Missouri, in the same house for 69 years, but the floodwaters destroyed it. He now lives in Fairfax. His first few months of retirement will be spent tearing down the house in Craig and cleaning up the property. Eventually, he plans to enjoy retirement by spending more time with his horse and getting him broke to ride. He joked, “I want him to learn that there are other things to life than eating and sleeping.”