Fr. Larry Gearhart grew up in the near western suburbs of Chicago. He is the oldest of three boys. Coming from a strong Catholic background, (having an aunt who is a retired nun and an uncle who is a retired Jesuit priest), he attended Catholic schools until the middle of seventh grade. From there he continued in the public system until receiving a Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1975 from the University of Illinois at Chicago. 

In 1997 he entered Mt. St. Mary of the West Seminary in Cincinnati.  He was ordained to the priesthood in 2003.

After ordination, Fr. Larry served as the associate for 2 years at Our Lady of Lourdes in Cincinnati and for 1 year at St. Albert the Great in Kettering.

Since July 2006 Fr. Larry has served as Pastor of St. Michael's in Mechanicsburg and Immaculate Conception in North Lewisburg..