James Ronald Larkin

1944 - 2020

James Ronald (Ron,J.R.) Larkin, age 75, passed away on March 28, 2020 at Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville He was born to Lemuel Augustus (Gus) Larkin and Ruth Hall Larkin on December 27, 1944 at the Caney Hollow family farm in Lexie Crossroads, TN. He spent most of his childhood in Franklin County, TN. Ron graduated from Huntland High School in 1962. He attended the University of the South at Sewanee, TN on an academic scholarship and graduated in 1966 with degrees in Economics and English. During most of his time at the University he was an Order of the Gownsman Scholar. After graduating from the University of the South, he joined the U. S. Army Reserve. He then went to work for the Department of Defense at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Ron was a graduate of the DoD Rhodes Scholar Program. Mr. Larkin spent most of his 42 year government career working for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers as a Contracting Officer in charge of Worldwide Hospital Construction and Refurbishment and procuring hospital equipment and furnishing. He received numerous commendations from the U.S. Office of the Surgeon General for his outstanding work and contributions to Military Medical Programs worldwide. Mr. Larkin mentored many young people in their Government careers and was highly regarded in his position as Division Chief. He retired in January 2007. Ron was also the founding partner of J. R. Enterprises Advertising in Huntsville, AL, a company that was awarded the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award in 1993. He was predeceased by his parents, Gus and Ruth Larkin of Winchester, TN and his older brother, Nelson of Nashville, TN. He is survived by two brothers, John and William T. of Winchester, TN; one sister, Betty (Ken) Wood of Rossville, GA; special lifelong friends Margaret and Gary Watson of Huntsville, AL.; and several nieces and nephews. The family will gather at Franklin Memorial Gardens at 2:00 pm on Monday, March 30, 2020 for graveside services. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 300 First Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)-967-2222, www.moorecortner.com.