Larry "Sam" Burrell

Larry David “Sam” Burrell age 85, of Shirley, Indiana passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, surrounded by his loving wife, Pauletta Burrell and family.

He was born in Dundee, Ohio on December 4, 1940, out on his grandparents’ farm, and was the son of the late Donald and Helen Weber Burrell. Larry had five wonderful siblings: Dr. Lewis Burrell (deceased), Joan Ratzlaff, Joel Burrell, Jeff Burrell, and Steve Burrell. Growing up they created a lot of great memories and stories to tell!

When Sam was young, he worked for his dad Don, and Uncle Willis at the Barrs Mills Feeds. He had a great work ethic and may have driven that mill truck a little too fast once! He moved on to work for an Amishman named Mose B. Yoder, but had to learn Dutch German before he could work for him. He was forever grateful to Mose since he taught Sam how to lay a block foundation. That was the beginning of a wonderful career.

Larry was a carpenter, builder, excavator and owned Burrell’s Excavating, dug pools for Dave’s Pools, and worked at General Motors Guide Lamp Division. He never knew a stranger and welcomed everyone wherever he went. He helped so many people in need and plowed the drives of everyone in the neighborhood when it snowed and always at no cost. He understood what it meant to “Do unto others”. If someone needed septic work done on a Sunday, he would do it for free. He didn’t believe in working on Sunday for pay. When he did take the pay in the past, he said it always cost him more. He helped many people pursue their education by paying the bills so they could better themselves. Even though he paid his own way through college, he always remembered that people helped him along the way when he was starting his own business.

Larry always believed in all four of his daughters and supported them in whatever they needed. He encouraged, helped out, was the shoulder to cry on, and laughed with them in the hilarious incidents that occurred.

If you knew Larry “Sam” then you know he was a good listener, gave excellent advice, someone you could look up to as a role model and had superhuman strength. He always let you borrow his tools if you needed them. Sam could build anything, could think on a problem and then solve it! He was a member of the Cadiz Friends Church, and loved his family and friends unconditionally and told everyone how he loved Jesus.

Larry is survived by his loving wife Pauletta Burrell, daughters Tamara Burrell, Amber Dishman, Kathy (Kyle) Kinnaman, Deb (Roy) Losch. Siblings: Joan (John) Ratzlaff, Joel (Diane) Burrell, Jeff (Karen) Burrell, Steve (Maria) Burrell. Grandchildren: Kelsey Harrington, Tyler Losch, Ethan (Bea) Losch, Emma Losch, Cody Payne, Kaleb Kinnaman, Kasen Kinnaman, and several nieces, nephews, great grandchildren.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Don and Helen Burrell, his brother, Dr. Lewis Burrell, brother-n-law Ted Pryor, and son-n-law Robert “Bobby” Dishman.

Visitation will be on Saturday January 31, 2026, from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service Knightstown Chapel. Funeral service will be at 1:00 pm with Pastor Bob Lines officiating. Burial will follow at McCray Cemetery in Wilkinson. You may share a memory or express a condolence for Larry at www.hinsey-brown.com.