Bernard James Larvin

Bernard James Larvin was born in Rockne, Bastrop County, Texas on April 13, 1924. He strode through life determined to build a future for his family and in the process enhanced and enlightened the lives of many along the way. Jim passed away peacefully on October 16, 2009, at the age of 85, surrounded and loved by family. The youngest of seven children, he was carefully looked after by his older siblings, particularly Clydia, Pearl and Ruby, who helped shepherd the family into Austin over the next few years. After growing up in and around the city, Jim attended Austin High School, where he graduated in May of 1941. He met his future wife Corinne working the night shift at an aircraft instrument assembly, on an Army air field in San Antonio. He knew immediately that he had met the love of his life. It would be another six years, however, before they married. As a member of the Army Air Service during World War II he was forced to abandon his aircraft over Nazi occupied Yugoslavia. The next five harrowing months were spent returning to Allied lines with his crewmates. After returning to post war Austin and enrolling The University of Texas with the help of the GI Bill of Rights, he married Mae Corinne Kuykendall in May of 1948. Within three years he had graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering and the couple had celebrated the birth of their only daughter Drew. During his time in college he successfully ran the Montopolis Water District from his mother's living room. Soon after Drew's birth the new family moved to El Paso where Jim began work in general contracting. Over the ensuing decade he moved around the region, from San Diego to Shreveport, managing large-scale construction projects, before finally settling in the Houston area. In 1975, having established a successful independent contracting company he and Corinne moved to Conroe, Texas where they cultivated a wide network of friends. In 1981 Jim retired there and he and Corinne used the town as a base from which to travel the world. After twenty wonderful years Corinne and Jim relocated again in 1995, this time to Austin, where their daughter Drew is a teacher. Her sons, Evan and Travis, grew to adulthood with the loving guidance of their grandparents nearby. Jim's life was upended by Corinne's death in November of 2005, and although he was devastated, he lived another four fruitful years, filled with laughter, love, and companionship, for which his family is eternally grateful. Jim was many things over the course of eight and a half decades, but was, above all, a devoted and loving husband, father, & grandfather. He is now with Corinne, but will be missed dearly by those he has left behind. His wife, Corinne Kuykendall Larvin; his parents, William Thomas, and Eva Myrtle Larvin; and sisters Clydia Julia Rye, Pearl Katheryn Bass McCain, Ruby Jane Lehman & Eva Myrtle; and brothers Frank Elton Larvin, & Bryson Larvin precede him in death. He is survived by his daughter Drew Scruggs and his grandsons Evan & Travis Scruggs, and many beloved nieces and nephews. The family wishes to say a special thank you to Shirley and Oscar Ray for all of their care, love and concern over these last months. A viewing will be held at the Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home at 2620 South Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704, on Sunday October 18, 2009. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm, Monday, October 19, 2009 at Mission Park Funeral Chapel South, 1700 S.E. Military Drive, San Antonio, TX 78214. A short burial service will follow.