Lawrence W. (Larry) Pinder, 50, of Grinnell died suddenly Wednesday, September 3, 2008, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A memorial gathering will be held Wednesday, September 10, at 5 p.m. in the Grinnell High School Auditorium with fellowship following in the main gym. Interment will take place at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Grinnell High School Speech Program or the Grinnell High School Athletic Booster Club. He was born December 25, 1957, in Grinnell, the son of Albert J. and Dorothy W. Pinder. He was a 1976 graduate of Grinnell High School and a 1980 graduate of Grinnell College, where he developed an interest in theater, particularly improvisational theater. Following his graduation, he practiced the art of standup comedy and professional improvisational theater in Minneapolis, graduation, he practiced the art of standup comedy and professional improvisational theater in Minneapolis, Minn.; Chicago, IL.; New York, N.Y.; and Los Angeles, CA. In 1988 he joined the staff of the Grinnell Herald-Register as newswriter and sports editor. He also continued his interest in theater, coaching students in improvisational theater at Grinnell College and Grinnell High School. In 1997 he was named a managing editor of the Herald-Register. He worked tirelessly at the Herald-Register, and was deeply committed to his family and much loved by his family, his students and the community. He is survived by his parents; one brother, Joe Pinder of Washington, D.C.;four sisters, Peggy Elliott and Martha Jane Pinder of Grinnell; Jeanne Pinder of Pelham, N.Y., and Anne Pinder of Madrid, Spain; two nieces , Juno and Phoebe Pinder of Pelham, and several cousins and many friends.