Captain Stephen H. Larrabee Jr.

Captain Stephen H. Larrabee, Jr. aged 82, died January 14, 2025, at his home. Born on May 16, 1942, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, son of Stephen Harris Larrabee of Scarborough, Maine and Isabel Latimer Larrabee of Watkins Glen, New York, Captain Larrabee was a 28 year veteran of the US Navy, a Naval Aviator (pilot) and Naval Officer. He traveled the world with challenging assignments and flying. He dearly loved his God, nature, his family and friends and tried his best in all things.

Captain Larrabee was a Mission Commander, Plane Commander, and Instructor/check pilot with thousands of flight hours in the P-3 Orion A/B/C versions of the Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft. He deployed worldwide, served in four continents, and was a Vietnam War veteran who flew "Operation Market Time" missions out of Cam Rahn Bay and Thailand. He also served two years as a flight instructor and check pilot in the T-28B/C aircraft teaching "nugget" Naval Aviators how to fly.

With a B.A. degree in Economics and a Masters in International Relations, Captain Larabee was a Distinguished Graduate of the Naval War College, Newport, RI, and a graduate of the National War College at Ft. McNair, Washington DC. He served in the Executive of the Operations Branch of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, and later on the Plans and Policy staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon. He was Commanding Officer of Aircraft Ferry Squadron 31 in Norfolk, VA in 1984-1985. Fluent in Spanish, he served as the Academic Dean of the Inter-American Defense College at Fort McNair and left Naval service in 1993. He asks that his country never forgets the sacrifices of those veterans that served and died to preserve our freedoms for over two hundred years of our republic.

He used to say he never had a bad day in the Navy for 28 years, and was a natural pilot who dearly loved to fly. When he retired to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in 2001, he tried to fly as many friends and neighbors as he could, low and slow, so they could appreciate the Valley's beauty from the air. He dearly loved his new home and friends in the unique and very special Valley.

An active amateur radio operator, "ham", for over 60 years, his other hobbies included flying privately, reading history, collecting and restoring antique radios, golf, motorcycling, and nature. He was a member of the Timberville Church of the Brethren, twice chairman of the Property Committee, and contributed many years to the Church Disaster Response Team trips and projects.

He is survived by his loving wife for over 20 years, Linda Elizabeth Utterback Larrabee, and was most proud of his daughters, Kelly Larrabee Sherwood, PA-C (Steve) of San Francisco, CA and Marly Larrabee Biermann, M.D. (Josh) of Portland, Maine, and his son, Jefferey Smith (Susie), of Fredericksburg, VA. He greatly loved and missed his wonderful granddaughter bright lights Sophia Claire and Gretta Gwendolyn in San Franscisco and his grandson Luke Larrabee Biermann and granddaughters Lola Larrabee Biermann and Lily Larrabee Biermann in Portland, Maine and granddaughter Jacqueline Danielle Peterson in Fredericksburg. His great-grandchildren Cassie and BJ Elliot in Fredericksburg, VA were special to him. They all gave him great joy and pride, and he loved them very, very much and wanted them to know how very much they meant to him: God's miracle gifts to the world which is a better place because they are here.

Captain Larrabee has asked to be cremated and his urn be interred at the Black Point Cemetery, Scarborough, Maine in the family plot. His memorial service will be private. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to the Shriners Hospital' Hospitals for Children and the Literacy Alliance of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Online condolences may be left at valleyfs.com

Arrangements by Heishman Funeral Home Inc., Valley Funeral Service Branch, Edinburg.