Larry Larkin

Blacksburg – Larry Leon Larkin, of 751 Rock House Road, passed away July 5, at the age of 82.

Mr. Larkin is preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Dee Ann Larkin; and his mother and father, Don and Lavonia Larkin.

He is survived and lovingly remembered by his daughters and sons-in-law, Kelley and Tommy Kennedy of Blacksburg, SC; Traci and Chip Leavine of Crawfordville, Fl; Heather and Chuck Wilson of Blacksburg, SC.; Grandchildren Jordan Miles McPherson (Matt); Austin Larkin Gilbert (Geneva), Hunter Christian Leavine (Hannah); Emily Ann Larkin Gilbert; Raleigh Jackson Kennedy (Jerry); and five great-grandchildren Lauren and Scarlett Moore, Ryan McPherson, E'Zaria and Parker Leavine; special friends Kendell and Shayne Robinson; and his faithful dog Fritz. Mr. Larkin is also survived by the members of the Antioch Volunteer Fire Department, whom he considered as family.

Mr. Larkin was born in Wichita, Kansas, where he attended East High School, Hutchinson Community College, Wichita State University and Cumberland University, and served in the United States Air Force and the National Air Reserve.

He started his career in aviation with Cessna in Wichita, Kansas where he started in the warehouse before earning his degree in engineering and was an instructor in blueprint interpretation and blueprint drawing and lofting. This led to other opportunities which relocated him to Piper Aircraft in Lakeland, Florida where he was the Purchasing Administrator; Lear Fan/Lear Jet in Glengormley, Northern Ireland where he was the Director of Operations of Lear Fan and a part of the "Piaggio Project" and the Lear Fan 2100; Textron Aviation in Nashville, Tennessee where he was the Operations Manager of Advanced Composite; Homelite Corporation in Gastonia, NC Director of Operations; John Deere Consumer Products Division where he was Director of Materials and the McCullogh Corporation in Hermosillo, Mexico and Tucson Arizona where he was the Managing Director of Mexico Operations before retiring and returning to Blacksburg, SC.

Visitation will be Friday, July 11th, 2025, at Gordon Mortuary in Blacksburg, SC from 6-8pm.

Members of the Antioch Volunteer Fire Department will have a special presentation at 7:30pm during the visitation.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Antioch Volunteer Fire Department at 937 State Rd, Blacksburg, SC 29702.

The Book of Memories is available at www.gordonmortuary.com.

The Blacksburg location of Gordon Mortuary is serving the Larkin family.