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Harold Vin Pops Larson
12/15/1924 — 09/05/2008
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Portland, OR
Harold Vin Pops Larson
Harold Larson
A Celebration of Life for Harold Vin, Pops Larson, 83, longtime member of the Richland community will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens at eleven o'clock Friday the 12th. Following there will be a lunch that everyone is invited to at Westside Church Wright and Lee at noon followed by a Celebration of Harold's life at 1. Born Dec. 15, 1924, in Portland Oregon to Herman and Caroline Larson, he graduated from Grant High School and enlisted in the Army-Airforce. He was in Pearl Harbor three weeks after Japan bombed it. He and his Army Airforce buddy, Marion Gleaton, installed and ran the earliest radar sets that helped guide the airplanes to land in the South Sea Islands.
After the service, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Physics in 1950 at Oregon State College. He met his wife, Zoe LaVerne Thompson, when they were both attending OSC. They were married August 29, 1948. His first job was teaching science and math for the Tillamook School District. The November of his second year of teaching, he was offered a scholarship to earn his Masters in Physics at the University of Washington. He worked at Ballard Locks while going to school.
In May 1952, he started working for GE out in the Hanford area as a physicist. He was an expert in the Radiation Protection Field and served as President of the Columbia Chapter of the Health Physics Society, and was elected as a Board Member of the National Health Physics Society.
He was involved with the Boy Scouts, he was treasurer of a cub pack, troop committee member, Assistant Scoutmaster, Scoutmaster, and merit badge counselor. He led his troop to the National Jamboree- West in 1973. His Troop served as Service Troop during the last week of Expo '74 in Spokane. During the years he served as Scoutmaster, he helped 10 Scouts obtain their Eagle Scout Rank.
In his church, Westside Protestant Church, he maintained an active role. He has been a ruling Elder and chairman of the nominating committee. He served as a trustee, a junior high sponsor, taught Sunday school and Bethel Bible Series, served several times as the director of Camp Ghormly, and as chairman of the Fuller Seminary Steering Committee. He and his wife served a year as sponsors of a Sr. High Choir at the Central United Protestant Church.
In his community, he has served as a P.T.A. President for two years at Marcus Whitman School and two years at Carmichael Jr. High School. He was also active in the "Y" Indians Guides, Brownies, and Campfire Girls, and has served as a member of the United Way Board. He was also active in Toast Masters.
He is survived by his wife Zoe of Richland; five children, Peg Jones Jerry of Colfax, WA; Greg Larson Chris of York, Main; Jeff Larson Margaret of Richland, WA; Dave Larson of Richland; Kathy Meade Dan of Maryland; two sisters, Marie Hewitt of Oregon City, OR; Elsie Bredburg of University City, WA; 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren and one great grandchild expected soon.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Scout Troop #237 in c/o Westside Church or Camp Ghormley c/o Westside Church.
So sorry to hear that Uncle Vin is gone. He was an amazing man with an enormous heart. He will be missed.
love,
Heather, Stephen, Rachel, & Nathaniel Scannell Brother Dan’s youngest daughter & her family
I attended Westside Church with Hal. He was a wonderful man with a great sense of humor. I miss his enthusiasm and friendliness. His dedication to the Boy Scouts inspired me to become an active scouter myself.
One of my proudest moments is still achieving the rank of Eagle. Many of my fondest memories still come from Boy Scouts. I owe Harold for both. His enthusiasm, humor, and dedication kept me and many othersconnected with scouts and proud of everything we accomplished. He was the role model and leader that every parent wishes their child could meet and learn from. “Cud” was a compliment, and burnt food was still burnt food, although he got us to eat it at times.
My family has heard repeated stories from our scouting adventures. They will continue to hear them, and I’ll continue to smile with every story.
Thank you for sharing your husband and father. He was a truly remarkable man. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
I met Harold and Zoe at Guardian Angel where I grew to love them and care for them as if they were my own relatives. My heartfelt condolences to Zoe and the family. Harold was an outstanding gentleman in every sense of the word, and a great friend to visit with. He will be missed by all he knew and loved.
My heartfelt condolences to Zoe and the entire family. Certainly our world is poorer without Harold, a man who gave so much of himself to others, positively influencing and enriched the lives of so many. He truly set the example for us, and will live on in our hearts and memories. His positive influence will last through the generations through not only those of us who he directly influenced, but in those to whom we pass along what he taught us. I never met a man who more fully exemplified and practiced the Judeo-Christian principles so important to our culture, and who was such a joy to be with.
I fondly remember Harold from West Side Church and from Boy Scout Troop 237. Harold ran a traditional scout troop, where the boys did all the work, guided by adults. Unfortunately, the fathers who replaced Harold forgot what Scouting was about and ran Troop 237 with almost as many men involved as boys, and most of the boys just stood around. The number of boys making Eagle rank declined.
Before my son transferred to another troop, he asked me to help him find one that was run the way Harold Larson would have run it. Now, that’s a tribute.
Zoe, Harold touched so meny young peoples lives. Harold and I spent meny years working for the same purpose, of getting kids to reach thier true potental. He with Troop 237 and me with 34 years with Post 237. We spent a lot of time togeater. Youth will be poorer without you. May God Bless.
Yours in Scouting Mike Tesky
I worked for or with Harold at Hanford for many years. He was a great manager and a great co-worker. I recall no instances of harsh words and when it was time to relax, he was King of Frolic with his Boy Scout songs and skits. He will always be warmly remembered.
I have known Harold since he started work in the Hanford Laboratories. I have always considered him a good friend and a pleasure to work with. He will be missed by all of us.
To say that “Pops” Larson was involved with Boy Scouts is a mild understatment. He was the very embodiment of what the Boy Scouts stood for. Harold took so many young boys and helped them to become men. He personally taught me to fight for what I believe is right and that we can achieve anything if we are truly willing to work for it.
Harold not only preached and taught his scouts about Godliness, he took us places and showed us God’s very presence. High in the mountains, along babbling brooks, roaring rivers, or a glass smooth lake, Harold pointed out God’s miracles to us all. However, only in adulthood did I understand that the real miracle was the man standing before me. I thank God in heaven for giving me the honor of knowing Pops Larson and benefitting from his loving guidance.
God Bless the Larson family and know that our hearts are with you.
To Harold Larson’s family,
My late husband, Tom McLaughlin, worked with Harold at Battelle starting in 1974. in the summer of 1975, Harold lead a backpacking trip for a group of his young coworkers and their wives in the north Cascades. We explored an old gold mining camp and then some of the guys decided to go into the old mine, which did not seem like a good idea to me. I can’t recall if Harold went into the mine, but there were several young wives who were wondering if the mine was going to collapse and we would not see our husbands again. Fortunatley, everyone came out of the mine safely. We had a great time on the trip, and created some wonderful memories from many years ago. I know Harold touched many lives during his lifetime.
JoAnne McLaughlin
Kennewick
My sincere condolences go out to all the Larson family. “Pops” wisely guided so many of us during all those years he selflessly volunteered in the Boy Scouts. It was a privilege and honor to have known such a fine man. I can proudly claim to being one of the 10 Troop 237 Eagle Scouts he had under his wing some 35 years ago. What an extraordinary man, with a fantastic sense of humor. They broke the mold with Harold, that’s for sure. He will forever live in our memories. My thoughts are with you all during this difficult time.
Guestbook for
Harold Vin Pops Larson