So he put his arms around you and whispered, “Come with Me.”
With tearful eyes we watched you and saw you fade away.
Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating, your tender hands as rest.
God took you home to prove to us, He only takes the best.
Poem by Frances M. Coelho
Ted was born in Richmond, Virginia where he was raised by his mother until his was ten years old. In the depths of the Great Depression his mother made the difficult decision to have him move to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains where he was raised on a farm by Leila S. Miller until he was 19 years old. While living on the farm he developed the skills needed to repair almost anything, a skill that benefited his family and employers throughout his life.
After High School, Ted moved to Newport News, Virginia where he enrolled in Newport News Shipbuilding’s Apprentice School. Not long after moving to Newport News he met the woman who would become his wife, Lucille Marie Lacy. Unfortunately, World War II interrupted his education and his marriage plans as he served his country in the United States Navy. After the war he re-enrolled in school, completed his apprenticeship as a machinist, and married his sweetheart Lucille.
Not long after completing his education, he learned of an opportunity to apply his skills at NASA’s Langley Research Center. At NASA, he expanded his skill set and ultimately supervised the development of instruments for many facets of the Space Program, including Project Apollo. After 30 years of Government service he retired and became a businessman, operating a successful trophy and engraving business.
While the small schools in the foothills didn’t have a formal music program, Ted discovered his love of singing in informal groups at friendly gatherings. Throughout his life Ted continued to pursue his musical interests. He was a committed Christian and faithful member of several Baptist churches and always sang in his church choir. In addition, he enjoyed organizing and singing lead in Gospel Quartets. After moving to Florida, he was a long-time member of the Vero Beach Choral Society and performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall and Vienna, Austria.
Ted loved sports. He was always active in his church’s softball teams, playing in his younger years and then transitioning to managing the softball team as he got older. He managed a number of City Championship teams. One of his teams went on to win both the State and Eastern Regional Championships. Ted also loved tennis. He played in many tennis leagues here in Florida and continued to play multiple days a week up until age 86.
Ted had a gregarious personality and quickly made friends with anyone he met. He always made time to help anyone who had a need. He was generous, kind, honest, faithful and devoted to his family who will miss him terribly.
Ted is survived by his wife of 73 years, Lucille; son, William Eugene Larson and his wife Terri. He was beloved “Andy” to three grandchildren: Chris Larson, Brian Larson, and Jeffrey Larson; and five great-grandchildren, Christopher, Elinore, William, Samuel, and Margaret, whom he cherished.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.aycockfuneralhome.net for the LARSON family.
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