Larry Slater

WARREN, Pa. — As traditions go, it’s hard to say which was more iconic during the holidays in Warren: the sight of red kettles at the entrance of local shops or the man beside one who for about 20 years helped provide Christmas cheer while volunteering for The Salvation Army.

Larry Slater was a recognizable face at Quality Markets in North Warren and later the BI-LO grocery store. Beginning each November when the The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign kicked off and through the Christmas holiday, Slater was a proud bell ringer for the organization.

“If you needed Larry, he was there,” said Lila Hookins, who from 1988 to 1993, was an officer at the Warren Salvation Army. “On the days when the weather was too cold, we’d tell Larry, ‘We don’t want you to go. Stay home.’ But he’d say, ‘Nope, that’s my responsibility’ and out he would go. He’d always have a smile on his face. He always went the extra mile.”

Despite a back injury that forced him into retirement while in his 30s, Slater’s charitable efforts were wide-ranging and sometimes unknown to many. His longtime companion, Betty Lou Conklin, said he probably would have given a stranger all the money in his wallet if it would do some good.

“He was an all-around great guy,” Conklin said Friday. “I’m very blessed to have known him and privileged to have loved him even more.”

Slater died Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Warren General Hospital at the age of 81.

Conklin had met Slater outside the local Salvation Army where she attended church. It was probably more than 30 years ago, though the exact year is a mystery to Conklin now.

But she knew the two were perfect for each other.

Slater openly accepted Conklin’s children and treated them as if they were his own. In fact, Conklin said he refused to use the word “step” when referring to their children and would get upset at anyone who asked.

After the two got together, an ordained minister — also known as an officer with The Salvation Army — asked Slater if he wanted to ring a bell for the organization’s famous Red Kettle campaign. He was soon hooked, and for about 20 years he would stand from morning to evening, several days a week, ringing the bell.

“When they needed him, he was there,” Conklin said.

Slater volunteered his time at other Salvation Army events, including Wednesday night dinners and the annual Thanksgiving meal. But it was the Red Kettle drive he’s likely most remembered for locally.

Conklin said Slater was loved by many. One year, a woman wanted to make a “sizable donation” to The Salvation Army, but would only do so if she could drop the check into Slater’s kettle. When the woman couldn’t find him at his usual spot, she waited a day until he was back.

Then there were the youngsters.

“The kids just loved him,” Conklin recalled. “He wanted to give the kids candy, so I would buy bags of candy that he could give them.”

Despite his back injury that Conklin said resulted in numerous surgeries, Slater stood dutifully for each of his shifts during the holidays. When his doctor finally put his foot down and told Slater he had to stop, it was devastating news.

“When he came home from the doctor he sat down and cried,” Conklin said.

Hookins recently returned to The Salvation Army after living elsewhere for many years. She recalled the struggles during her previous stint to find volunteers for the annual collection drive.

But there was always Slater. “Everyone always knew he was going to be there,” she said.

In addition to Conklin, Slater is survived by a brother, Dan Slater of Bradford, Pa.; three sons, Anthony Nelson of Warren, James (Debbie) Nelson of California, and Richard (Cristina) Nelson of California; his grandchildren, Aaron and Leslie Nelson, Phoebe Nelson, Haley Nelson, Jonathan Nelson, Natalie Nelson and Darlene Cox; several great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews, Patrick and Sara Conklin and Melody Conklin; and his beloved cat, Tramp.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Dale and Darrell Slater; and a daughter, Colleen Yurick. A memorial service will be held at a later time to be announced at the Warren Salvation Army.