Larry Shirk Larkin

Larry Shirk Larkin was born on September 6, 1928 in Willard, Utah to Israel Smith Larkin and Mabel Zamina Shirk. Larry grew up in Willard and would often reminisce about his wonderful childhood adventures spent under “my mountains” behind their home.

After graduating from Box Elder High School in 1947, he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to work with his brothers in their plumbing business. In 1948, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served through the beginning of the Korean conflict as a Chief Petty Officer. During his service in the Navy, he established a sure foundation of belief and reliance upon God and Jesus Christ that has greatly blessed his posterity. Much of his time in the Navy was spent on the Island of Guam and he often recounted fond memories of his experiences there. Upon his return home from the Navy, he served in the Central States Mission under President Alvin R. Dyer and then enrolled at Brigham Young University from which he graduated in 1958 and earned his teaching credentials. While at BYU, he met and married Marilyn Anderson in the Idaho Falls Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on December 15, 1955. He taught school in Salt Lake City, Utah and Anaheim, California but decided to return to Las Vegas to work again in the plumbing trade. He founded Big Town Plumbing and was a successful Plumbing Contractor. He went on to become a prominent Real Estate Developer and Homebuilder in Las Vegas.

Always missing his mountains, he returned to Willard, Utah with his beloved wife Marilyn in 1997. They served a mission together in Abergavenny, Wales and in Newton Abbot, England from 1998 to 1999. After returning home from their mission, they lived in their Victorian cottage beneath his towering mountains until Larry peacefully passed away on December 2, 2017.

Larry was a kind and generous man who never failed to help anyone who came to him in need. Along with listening to his beloved John Gary songs, he enjoyed fishing, riding ATVs, skiing, ice-skating, traveling, and being outdoors. He was a wonderful and loving husband and father who prized his family as his most meaningful achievement.

Larry Larkin was preceded in death by his parents and by his brothers John Paul, Ivan, Herman, Jay, Conrad, and Daniel; and by his sisters Rachel Hubbard and Laura Green.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marilyn (Anderson) Larkin, and five children: Scott Albert (Diana) Larkin, Todd S. (Laura) Larkin, Nancy Jo Larkin, Mindy Leigh (Stephen) Tracy, and Dana Paul (Hwajin) Larkin; and one brother Israel Larkin. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren: Samuel, Daniel, Kathryn (Brandon), Connor, Jordan, Levi, Alisquette, Tyler, Madeline, Stephentodd, Paul, Angela, and Ashly; and one great-grandchild Matthew Wright.

A viewing will be held Thursday, December 7, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with services following at 11:00 a.m., all at the Willard Utah Stake Center, 8230 South Highway 89, Willard, Utah. Interment will occur after the funeral service at the Willard City Cemetery.