David R. Larson

David R. Larson of La Grande died Thursday, April 6, 2006. He was 89 years old. Mr. Larson was born November 20, 1916 in Meacham, Oregon to John D. and Ruth C. Hawes Larson. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1935. He later studied courses at American Academy of Accountancy, Alexander Hamilton Institute and San Mateo Jr College.

He married Lois McCluskey in La Grande in 1937. She died in Seattle in 1963. Mr. Larson worked for the Western Union Telegraph Company for thirty-three years. He took leave from Western Union during the Second World War to work at Oregon Shipbuilding Corp. in St Johns as a steamfitter. Following the War he returned to Western Union where he held several managerial positions including manager of the bookkeeping bureau in Seattle and operations manager in Seattle.

He married LaVerne Pinson in Fort Collins, Colorado while on assignment in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1973. She died in La Grande in 1989. Mr. Larson took early retirement from Western Union in 1975 and accepted employment with The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission in Olympia, where he worked for eight years before returning to La Grande in 1983. He enjoyed sports and ocean salmon fishing.

Mr. Larson is survived by his daughter, Molly Cook, of Langley, WA; daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Gary Elliott, of Vancouver, WA; step-son and wife, Eddie and Leniece Pinson, of Peyton, CO; grandchildren Monica and John Ball of San Diego, CA; Meredith and Bob Laws, of Anacortes, WA; Rick and Crystal Elliott, of Hillsboro, OR; Michelle Elliott of Molalla, OR and Marcus and Tarin Elliott, of Vancouver, WA; 13 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition, he leaves behind his dearest friend, Helen Knouse of La Grande, OR. Mr. Larson's father, mother, two brothers, Clyde and John (Bud) and three sisters, Greta, Bette and Marian, all preceded him in death.

At Mr. Larson's request, there will be no public service.