Mr. Charles H. Larson

He leaves his dear wife of 48 years, Elin (Bloomquist), and their three children and families - Christina and Anton Rao of Cheshire, Jennifer and Charlie Silverman of Farmington, and Stephen and Emely Larson of Newington. His five grandchildren, Samantha, Brynna, and Michaela Rao, and Nick and Alex Silverman, treasure fond memories of Grampa Larson and life at the lake.

Charlie was born to Herbert and Gunborg (Hallsten) Larson in 1938 and grew up in New Britain. In 1949, he helped his parents and his Aunt Lil to build a summer home at Roger's Lake in Old Lyme, where, over the years, the extended Swedish family gathered. He studied chemistry and metallurgy at Yale University, graduating in 1961. He and Elin married in 1963 and raised their family in Newington. As a metallurgist he worked briefly at Fafnir Bearing Company, and then worked 30 years at Associated Spring/Barnes Group in Bristol, guiding spring manufacturing and failure analysis. He served as President of the Hartford Chapter, American Society for Metals.

In early years, Charlie was active in the Kensington Baptist Church as an officer and member of the choir, until his young family joined the Church of Christ, Congregational in Newington. He was a tireless worker and jack-of-all-trades, but would allow himself an occasional round of golf or game of Scrabble, in English or Swedish. He adored classical music, conducting it himself some as he listened; he also loved the comedic tunes and jokes on the Bob Steele show. He plotted out the Hallsten family tree and honored his many aunts, uncles, and cousins. What he loved most was simply keeping company with friends and dear neighbors and family, and telling his stories. He had a ready smile and a boisterous, rollicking laugh. He taught his children that they could do whatever they put their minds to doing. In 1996 he and Elin retired to the Rogers Lake home that he had helped to build. He converted their small boathouse into an art studio for Elin and they became active in the art community and The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. He dabbled in pottery, supported Elin's many activities, and sang alongside Elin in Capella Cantorum, Con Brio, and their church choir. They treasured their life at the lake.

A Memorial Service will be held Friday, December 2nd, 2011, at The First Congregational Church of

Old Lyme at 1PM. Friends may call Thursday, December 1st, from 4 to 7PM at the Fulton-Theroux

Funeral Service, 13 Beckwith Lane, Old Lyme. A Committal Service will be conducted at the

Fairview Cemetery in New Britain, on Saturday, December 3rd at 11AM. Friends are welcome to

attend and to share a time of fellowship at the Silverman home in Farmington from noon to 4PM

following the committal service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Congregational

Church of Old Lyme Food Pantry Ministry 2 Ferry Rd., Old Lyme, CT 06371 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.