Ocala has lost one of its kindest voices.

Larry Whitler, known affectionately as the “Gentle Giant,” was killed in a crash on SR 200 Thursday night. He was 70. His passing leaves a silence that can’t be filled – on the airwaves, in the arts community, and in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

Larry was more than a familiar voice on the radio. He was a true friend, a gifted artist, and a generous spirit who made everyone feel welcome. I first met Larry about 15 years ago while presenting at the Marion County Public Schools Student Media Awards. He and Robin MacBlane were already local legends by then, known to generations as “Robin and the Giant” on 1370 WOCA-AM. But it wasn’t the show’s long-standing success that stuck with me… it was Larry’s warmth. He had a way of making you feel like you’d known him forever.

Larry spent decades uplifting this community with his music, his art, his radio stories, and his presence at local events. He was a man who gave his time freely, who laughed easily, and who always had something kind to say. Whether you met him once or listened to him daily, you walked away better for it.

My heart breaks for Robin, his co-host, creative partner, and dear friend. I also extend my deepest condolences to Larry’s family, his many friends, and all who now feel this tremendous loss.

Larry Whitler was truly one of a kind: an unassuming legend whose legacy is written in the lives he touched. Ocala won’t be the same without him.

Rest easy, Gentle Giant. You will be missed.

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