ORLANDO, Fla – Grant Louis LaRose of Orlando, Fla., and South Paris, peacefully went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, Feb. 26.

He was born in Auburn on Oct. 27, 1917. He attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He had his own band, LaRose’s Nighthawks. He also performed professionally with Billy Butterfield, the Fenton Brothers, Les Elkart and others playing the trumpet and trombone.

During World War II, he toured Europe with USO bands and continued his music career on a part-time basis. He also excelled in the automotive industry in sales, and retired in 1980 from Chaplin Cadillac and Oldsmobile in Falmouth. Upon retirement, he spent his winters in Orlando and summers on his farm in South Paris. He was a devoted member of Pine Castle United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Grace Kersey LaRose; he was blessed with 10 children, Marie Dry, Grant T. LaRose, Barbara Banham, Thomas LaRose, Annie Green, Frances Martin, Greg LaRose, Gary LaRose, Gloria LaRose and Glen LaRose; 22 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren and one on the way; and two sisters, Rita Benedix and Mary Lou Felker.