Richard Larson

Captain Richard Larson, USN (Ret.) passed away in his sleep of natural causes on 25 November 2012 in Great Falls, Virginia. He was 91 years old.

Growing up in Waltham MA, following graduation from Waltham HS, he entered the Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet. After earning his wings, he flew in the Pacific theater as a fighter pilot and as a Patrol Plane Commander in VPB-149, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross and numerous Air Medals for valor. From 1946-1948, he studied at Harvard University under the Navy’s 5-term college program. This was followed by a tour in VP-8 with deployments in support of the Korean conflict and then as a flight instructor at NAS Corpus Christi. Promoted to LCDR, he was stationed at NAS Kodiak AK as the Air Officer from 1952-1954. He then attended Navy Line School at Monterey CA. From 1954-1956, he served as Navigator aboard USS Jupiter, (AVS-8), homeported at Yokosuka, Japan. He then spent 2 years at the Bureau of Aeronautical Maintenance and Repair at NAS, Norfolk, where he was selected for promotion to Commander and for operational command. Serving first as Executive Officer of Attack Mining Squadron 10, he then served as Commanding Officer where he led the squadron through a mission change and re-designation as Patrol Squadron 17. Command was followed by a tour at NAS Ford Island, HI as Aide and Flag Secretary for Commander, ASW Forces, Pacific. Following this, he reported to the Office of the Navy Comptroller as Associate Director (Plans and Programming) where he was promoted to Captain in 1963. From 1966-1969, Captain Larson served as the Naval Attaché attached to the Defense Attaché Office, Stockholm, Sweden. From Sweden, he served as Director of Administration, Naval Air Systems Command, Arlington VA until his disability retirement in 1973. During this time, he also earned an MBA from the Univ of Maryland. Following his retirement from the Navy, he worked with the Joint Cruise Missile Project until his full retirement in 1989.

The love of his life, the former Elizabeth E. Stevens of Waltham MA, predeceased him in 1995, a few weeks prior to their 50th wedding anniversary. He leaves his beloved family, sons Robin (NH) and Roy (NJ) daughters Dee Dee (NC) and Betsy (VA) along with 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Richard was predeceased by brothers Dwight Andrew and Robert of Waltham MA. He leaves a sister Astrid LaForest, Waltham and brothers Albert, Balboa Island CA and Cameron, Newton MA.

Memorial services will be held on 01-March-2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Memorial Chapel at Fort Myer, Arlington, VA, followed by interment at Arlington National Cemetery alongside his wife.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the ALS Association or to Capital Caring Hospice Services of Loudoun and West Fairfax Counties, VA.