Walter Vearl Larkins, 88, a longtime Eagle Valley resident died May 9, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Services.
His graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland.
Visitations will be until 7 o’clock tonight at the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.
Mr. Larkins was born April 20, 1913, at Garden City, Kan., to Marion and Sharlet Cox Larkins. While growing up, he accomplished many things.
As a boy, he enjoyed fishing and hunting. He also like playing baseball and he was a pitcher until he threw his arm out. He worked at many trades, including working on the railroad for 50 cents a day, in a flour mill, as a sharecropper, a carpenter, and as an operating engineer.
He quit school after the eighth grade to help his grandfather on the farm. His grandfather taught him Bible Truths as associated with the International Bible Students, now known as Jehovah’s Witnesses. He moved to Richland in 1955.
Eagle Valley became the place he loved along with his wife, Verdie Larkins, and their children. Mr. Larkins was an excellent gardener. He could grow anything. His squash was exceptional, as were his red potatoes. He also was very fond of roses and grew different types.
He was a woodcraftsman and made many wooden toys and dolls for his children. He enjoyed hunting with his boys and fishing with his wife, Verdie. He was a very comical and humorous man as many at Richland as well as the nurses and nurses aids at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center have commented. He truly loved his God, Jehovah, and son Jesus Christ. Mr. Larkins was recognized by those who knew him as an honest man.
He loved his family very much.
The family offered a special thanks to caregivers, Valerie and Vern Madison, and to the entire staff at St. Elizabeth Health Care Services and Dr. Charles Hofmann and to Tom Carnagey, who was a dear friend to Mr. Larkins.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Verdie Larkins; son, Larry Joe Larkins; and daughter, Kathleen Larkins.
Survivors include his daughter, Verlene Drew of Chicago; son and daughter-in-law, Glen and Lorretta Larkins of Richland; daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Gary Bowman of Baker City; sons and daughters-in-law, Roger and Lydia Larkins of Milton-Freewater and Jimmy and Leisa Larkins of Haines; and daughters and sons-in-law, Rose Mary and Don Sieckman and Barbara and Tom Turner, all of Baker City; 17 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice or Jehovah’s Kingdom Hall at Halfway through the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, May 11, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor