Larry Pilkinton                                                                                                              1947 - 2024

Lawrence Lester Pilkinton, also known as Larry, Dad, PawPaw, Pops, “Mr. Lawrence,” passed away peacefully at home on March 4, 2024, at the age of 76.

A native Houstonian, he was born on October 14, 1947, to Antonia Wleczyk and Jesse Cecil Pilkinton. He was one of their nine children which included eight sons and one daughter. Lawrence grew up in Houston, proudly serving his country in the Vietnam War as a combat medic in the 25th Infantry Division, Tropic Lightning, where he received the bronze star medal before returning home to marry Kristine Helene Canino in 1971. 

Kristine and Lawrence celebrated 52+ years of marriage. Lawrence possessed an incredible work ethic from a very early age and began working at Canino’s Produce amongst many other jobs. At multiple times in his teenage years, he had more than three jobs at the same time. Eventually, he came to help run the Canino business for decades with his brothers-in-law, mother-in-law, and father-in-law. If asked what he did for a living, he said, “I sell produce by the side of the road.” He truly enjoyed being a “businessman”. 

Lawrence was a resident of Katy, TX for 46 years, where he and Kristine raised their four children and welcomed 11 grandchildren before moving to Richmond, TX. Lawrence was immensely proud of his family.

Over the years he had the joy of attending many of his family’s sporting events, theater productions, weddings, graduations, grandparents’ days, and more. He loved God and was a long-time parishioner of St. Bartholomew and then St. Faustina, as well as a proud member of the Sacred Heart Society. He had a love of old westerns (best watched at maximum volume), particularly John Wayne films, as well as golf, basketball, and football. He loved calling his children or friends on the phone while watching sports on tv and providing entertaining commentary. He was a true Astros baseball and University of Houston basketball fan. In his retirement, he learned to relax a little and enjoyed long walks outdoors and to sit by the pool, especially if there were grandchildren and their dogs having fun around him.

He will be remembered for his love and devotion to his entire family, his colorful sense of humor and off-the-wall wisdom he liked to impart on those around him, his love of good food, and his signature Hawaiian shirts. As he often said about others, “he was a good man.” He loved his work, wife, kids, grandkids, family, his countless friends, God, and his country. He will be incredibly missed by his family and friends, and his legacy will continue through his children and their families. He was a proud brother, uncle, cousin, husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

Lawrence is preceded in death by his parents, Antonia and Jesse Pilkinton, his brothers James, Chester, Alvin, Paul, Wayne, Jesse, his brother-in-law Don Matejek, his father-in-law, Joe Canino, and his mother-in-law, Josephine Orlando Hughes and her husband Charles.

He is survived by his brother, Michael, his sister, Dorothy Matejek, his wife Kristine Pilkinton, his brother-in-law Michael Canino, his brother-in-law William Canino and his wife Cynthia. He is survived by Kimberly Pilkinton and son-in-law, Marvin D. Atkins, Jr, and their four children Aidan, Emily, Lauren (namesake), and Caroline; Lawrence Joseph Pilkinton and daughter-in-law Lyndsay Kopp Pilkinton and their three children, Gage Lawrence, Henry, and Tate; Kevin Brian Pilkinton and daughter-in-law Danielle Guerre Pilkinton and their three children, Gavin, Brian, and Katherine; Kristie Pilkinton, her daughter, Mekaela Henry, and her father Yusuf Henry. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces, great-nephews, and more.  

His life will be celebrated with a funeral mass at St. Faustina Catholic Church in Fulshear on March 16, 2024, at 10 a.m. with viewing and rosary during the hour preceding. He will be laid to rest with military honors at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Lawrence can be made to the “Building Our Center of Divine Mercy” for the St. Faustina community: https://saintfaustinachurch.org/buildingourchurch.