Zola Larkin

1915 - 2017

LARKIN, Zola Was born on January 9th, 1915 and passed this life on Thursday, December 14th, 2017. She was 102. Zola grew up on a large farm in Midland, Ohio with her parents and siblings. Her life on the farm taught her to become a strong and independent woman. After high school she left the country life and went to college. First, at Wilmington College, and then on to the University of Dayton where she graduated and became an elementary school teacher. Although she taught at several elementary schools, she spent the majority of her career teaching at St. Albert the Great where she taught music and science. She met her husband, Charles, after WWII and they married in 1948 and went on to have three children and a wonderful life together. Zola was an accomplished artist and avid gardener. Her flower gardens were always the nicest around and admired by many. Gardening was always her favorite pastime and she took care of her extensive gardens well into her 90's. When she was 92, she traveled to Italy with a church group for a tour of the country and the Vatican. Zola was preceded in death by her husband Charles Larkin; her son, John Larkin; her older brother, Clayton Strider, and her parents Palmer and Musetta Strider. She is survived by her sister Stella Boring; her brother Donald (Jeri) Strider; her daughter, Cindy Gardner; and her son, Daniel Larkin (Teri). She is also survived by her grandchildren Marisa Hatton (Doug); Paige Gardner-who was her caretaker for the last several years and Nathan Larkin; and her great-grandchildren Kylie Durnbaugh and Cooper Hatton as well as many other relatives and friends. A Special thank you goes to the employees at St. Leonard for their kindness and help during the past year. The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 21, 2017 from 10:30am-12pm at St. Albert the Great, 3033 Far Hills Ave., Kettering, OH 45429. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12pm. Zola will be laid to rest next to her husband, Charles, at Calvary Cemetery. To send a special message, please visit www.NewcomerDayton.com.