~ IN MEMORY ~
Navy veteran, WAL Capt. Robert Vance
Larsen Sr.
January 1, 1929 ~ April 8,
2015
We have received word from family that
retired Western pilot Captain Robert Vance Larsen Sr. passed away in his sleep
the morning of April 8th. Captain
Larsen joined Western Airlines 09-06-1955 and was based DEN and SLC. He was 86
years of age at the time of his passing. Captain Larsen had most recently
resided at 2047 Summer Way, Eagle
Mountain, UT 84005-4261 ... (801) 789-2874
To view/sign the online guestbook
please visit the funeral home site at http://serenicare.com/obituaries/robert-vance-larsen/ Captain Larsen is survived by his wife Ruth Christina
'Chris'. Services for Captain Larsen will be held April 16th in Eagle Mountain,
Utah...please see details below. For more information you may also contact the
family by emailing son David at davidlarsen39@gmail.com
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
..........................About Robert
Vance Larsen..........................
Robert Vance Larsen, 86, son of Vance
Carl Larsen and Clara Shelton McKendrick, passed away April 8, 2015 in Payson,
Utah in his sleep. He was born in Duchesne, Utah on January 1, 1929. From a very
young age Robert had been fascinated with airplanes and always wanted to learn
to fly. His very first airplane ride in 1943 with Casper Wolfe at the controls
started him on the journeys which lead to him getting his private pilot’s
license before his driver’s license. After many years of flying all types of
planes for various jobs his ultimate dream came true and it culminated with a 25
year career with Western Airlines as a pilot. During that career he piloted such
planes as the DC-3, Convair 240, DC-6, 707, 720B, 737 and finished his career
with the DC-10.
On July 6, 1946 Robert enlisted in the
Navy. While in boot camp at San Diego, California he had hopes and designs of
serving on a submarine. Unfortunately, due to a decision one day to goof off
with two other sailors rather than fulfill his work assignment at the end of
boot camp, they were placed on report and thrown in the brig for three days and
nights. While he was in the brig his orders came to report to submarine school.
Being in confinement, he missed the opportunity. He would later say had he went
to that school he most likely never would have had a flying career. He was
instead assigned on November 19, 1946 to serve on an aircraft carrier, the USS
Kearsarge where he served until October 10, 1947 when he was reassigned to the
USS Midway. Robert completed his naval service in June, 1948.
One night in March 1948 while on a 10-day
leave from the Navy, Robert and a friend, Paul Harding, went to a drive-in cafe
in Provo, Utah where he pointed to one of the car-hops working there and said to
Paul, “do you see that cute little gal?”
“What about her?”
“That’s the girl I’m going to marry!”
“You’re crazy, you don’t even know her
name,” Paul said laughingly. Eight months later on November 8, 1948, Robert
married that girl, Ruth Christina (Chris) Willden at her Aunt Ruth’s home in
Provo, Utah.
Robert was baptized a member of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1937 by his uncle Rulon Larsen in
the waters of the Strawberry River in Duchesne. After several years of
inactivity Robert returned to church activity in 1959 and had been a faithful
member ever since, serving in many capacities and callings. He and his wife
Chris also had the opportunity to serve as Name Extraction missionaries from
their home in Eagle Mountain, Utah. He lived a full life and loved to share his
experiences with family and friends at every opportunity. He is loved and will
be missed.
Robert is preceded in death by his
parents, sisters, and his oldest son, Robert Vance Larsen, Jr. and is survived
by his wife Chris and children, Ruth Darlene Mahler (Gustav), Rulon, Steven
(Debbie), Karen Harris (Randy), Leland (Arlynne), David (Tish), and 24
grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on April
16, 2015 at the LDS chapel on 4142 Lake Mountain Road in Eagle Mountain, Utah.
Viewing from 9:00-10:30am with the funeral at 11:00am. Interment will be at the
Veterans Memorial Park at Bluffdale, Utah by Camp Williams.
--------------------------------------
My father
Robert V Larsen who was a pilot for Western 1955-1978 has passed away this
morning outside SLC, Utah.
David
Larsen
No comments:
Post a Comment