|
Keith's parents, Ervin Arthur Larson and Sylvia Eleanor Soloway met on VJ Day in 1945 in Boston, Massachusetts when his dad was in the Navy. They were married 3 months later. They had a son, Keith Ervin Larson, born on March 1st, 1947 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Keith's dad got his degree after leaving the military and took a job at Proctor and Gamble. His work took him to Iowa where they bought a home on 1209 Diana Street in Iowa City. Keith always spoke very fondly of where he grew up and said his favorite thing to do was play baseball. Said he played every chance he got which was almost everyday. He didn't like the winter months much because he couldn’t play baseball! Five years later, in 1952, his sister Karen was born.
Keith attended Mark Twain Elementary School and graduated from Iowa City High School in 1965. He attended the University of Iowa for 2 years where he studied accounting. He enlisted in the U.S. military (Army) in October of 1967 where he earned the National Defense Service medal, Army Commendation medal, Vietnam Service medal and Vietnam Campaign medal. Keith graduated from Radio Teletype School, becoming a skilled radio operator. He received an honorable discharge in July of 1969.
Keith traveled around the country after leaving the service, staying in California for a time with some friends. He made his way to Houston, Texas sometime between 1970 and 1972, after finding The Lord, and wound up working for a roofing company where my father, Charles Gillespie, was a union representative and job foreman. My dad gave him one of his first jobs in Houston! He attended several churches where he wasn't just content to sit on a pew. He served the Lord by playing the guitar, harmonica and driving the church van. Eventually, he went to school to learn the machinist trade and for over 30 years, that's how he earned his living. He worked for such companies as Crane Energy, National Oilwell Vargo, Cameron Rig Solutions and Dril-Quip. Yes, he was THAT good. I was so proud of him. He loved cutting steel.
I met Keith in August of 1996. He swept me off my feet and we were married July 26, 1997. I was madly in love. We moved into our home in Humble where we remained for twenty years (and where I still live). He helped me to raise my daughter, Quintana and she became His daughter. He was the best husband, father and provider. We were on one long courtship where we went out on "dates" almost every weekend up until he was no longer able. In 2014, Keith was diagnosed with cancer and underwent an 11 hour major surgery. The doctors said they got all the cancer and for a little over two years, Keith was in remission. He even went back to work. In January of 2017, tests revealed that the cancer had not only come back, but had spread to many areas of his body. He did all that was required by the doctors, underwent chemo again and this time, radiation injections. He never missed his appointments and tried to take care of himself by taking his medications faithfully. He fought the good fight but in the end, cancer won. On Thursday, October 12th, 2017, I said good-bye to my husband and the love of my life. I thank God for having known and loved Keith Larson.
https://obittree.com/obituary/us/texas/humble/rosewood-funeral-home/keith-larson/3210580/index.php
|
Jim Farnsworth
Rest In Peace Keith. Although it's been 60 or so years since we shared boyhood adventures I remember them well and you will be a part of me for as long as I live. Keith and I were boyhood friends in Iowa City. Our neighborhood was on the edge of town and we had many great adventures both in town and in the surrounding country. Riding our bicycles down to Hills, out to the newly constructed Coralville Reservoir dam, Going on hikes with Mr. Jerks to the sand pits to look at rocks. Baseball and dodge ball at Mark Twain Elementary. Rest In Peace Keith
I was able to share some memories with Keith and his family via face book the week before he died.
Hi,
Keith and I were childhood friends starting in 3rd grade we lived in a new housing addition, Plum Grove. We had many great adventures at the edge of civilization. Keith also liked my mom's oatmeal raisin cookies which I got all the time so we'd trade because I never got Oreo's or twinkies. Bring back memories Keith?
One day my mom got a call from her friend Billie McLaughlin. "Elnora do you know where Jim is?" My mom replied "He said he was going to your house to play with Tommy." "Well he's here, him and Keith are sitting on my front porch smoking a cigarette!"
By the way Keith my mom is still living at 1330 Carroll St, on her own, dad died two years ago, she's still driving occasionally around town, 94. My wife Sandy (Voparil) has taken over the oatmeal raisin cookie production and now I won't trade for Oreos or Twinkies. Your in my thoughts.
Hi, Jim Farnsworth! When you sent the friend request I asked him who you were. He replied "he's my best friend". I can't wait to read this to him in the morning. I will post his reply. Thank you -Q
Hi Keith and -Q,
I am honored to considered by Keith as his best friend. When we were kids at first our neighbor hood was at the edge of town, south and west were undeveloped fields and the circus or fair grounds. Later construction on more houses began and we had free reign on dirt piles, basement excavations, scrap lumber piles and houses in various stages of completion. Ponies to ride, the carrousel at the waste water treatment plant also known as trickling filter, the scary locker plant where you could watch the whole process of live animal to meat ready to eat. Keith had a BB gun (which my father absolutely forbade me to have). Keith would let me shoot it and once I fired at a canvas covering a pile of wood we were climbing on and the BB ricocheted and hit Keith in the butt or thigh. Keith would go back east to visit relatives Boston area IIRC and come back with stories of Howard Johnson ice cream and other mysterious regionalisms. One summer he came back with stories about rock n roll, dancing with girls, I wasn't interested, I was more interested in snakes, ground squirrels and building forts with lumber we appropriated from the new houses. We were truly free range kids,
Jim
Jim Farnsworth he said "I remember that, it was the butt". Thank you, Jim. Keith enjoyed that. -Q
After reading Keith's obituary I made an additional comment.
Keith was a machinist! That's the last thing I would have thought my childhood buddy would end up being. Why? 'Cause I was the guy that fixed his bicycle for him, flat tires, wheel bearings, brake and shift cable adjustments on his exotic (made in England, high pressure narrow tires, compared to my Schwinn) Raleigh.
Barb Robb (Channell)
My deepest condolences to Keith's family. He was a good guy. Barb Robb Channell