A. Larkin Kirkman

1937 - 2025

A. Larkin Kirkman

October 4, 1937 - October 27, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina - A. Larkin Kirkman passed away on October 27, 2025, with his wife Rosa at his side in his home in Raleigh, NC. Larkin was born on October 4, 1937 in High Point, NC to Katharine Kirkman and O. Arthur Kirkman. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead scholar, graduating in 1959 with an A.B. in History. It was while at UNC that he met Rosa, the love of his life, in an introductory poetry class. He and Rosa could always make each other laugh. He completed his law degree at the University of Chicago in 1965, and was awarded his PhD in History in 1971 from Leland Stanford Junior University. While in California, Larkin and Rosa had two sons, Jacob and Nathan. He taught at Hayward State in California before moving to Blacksburg, VA in 1971 to teach Reformation History at Virginia Tech. In 1976 he decided to change careers and moved to Raleigh, NC in order to start practicing law. His entire career was spent helping those who were not able to help themselves. Many were juveniles and young adults.

Larkin loved hiking, and one summer hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to North Carolina before being rained out by a hurricane. He spent time over many years building much of the Falls Lake section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail with friends. He devoted much of his time to the North Carolina Trails Association and Triangle Greenways. He and Rosa hosted several foreign exchange students over the years and loved to travel abroad, as well as around the U.S. They passed this love of travel along to both of their boys. Larkin also fostered a love of cycling in his older son, Jacob. When he was not building trails, Larkin spent many days cycling small county roads on his three-speed with Jacob. A life-long academic who loved to read, Larkin had an extensive library and an incredible memory for the precise location of each book.

As our parents' world began to shrink, they came to rely on Cantina 18 for almost every dinner they ate. They enjoyed the food and treasured the staff -- and Larkin LOVED the she-crab soup. If Cantina 18 had not kept she-crab soup on the menu especially for him, he may have withered away five years earlier! Larkin's wish to remain in his home until he passed away was made possible by the compassionate, attentive help of family, friends and neighbors, caregivers from Right At Home, and Transitions Life Care.

He is survived by his wife, Rosa; his two sons, Jacob (Angela) and Nathan (Beth Gulewich); three grandchildren, Max and Nina (Nathan & Beth) and Adrian (Jacob & Angela); sister Caroline McGuinn (Bill), brother John Kirkman (Constance Gerard), and sister Susan Huneycutt (Charlie); as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to UNC-Chapel Hill University Libraries or your favorite charity. Although no funeral is planned, we would love to hear any stories you wish to share. You can read more about our father and share your memories at https://www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com/obituaries/larkin-kirkman.