Don A. Larimore (1919-2007)

LARIMORE

Posted By: Sherry Duval (email)
Date: 9/11/2007 at 10:55:02

Don Arthur Larimore passed away Wed., 29 Aug 2007 at Avoca Lodge Assisted Living in Avoca, IA. He had attained the age of 87 years, nine months, and 25 days.

Funeral services were held on Sat., 1 Sept at 11 am at the United Church of Avoca with Pastor Nancy Ross-Hullinger as the clergy.

Serving as casket bearers were Paul Petters, George Applegate, Wayne Jacobsen, Dave Schueman, Gale Bintz, and Charles Rutenbeck.

Military rites were given by the American Legion Fred Funston Post No. 227 of Avoca. Interment was held in Graceland Cemetery, Avoca. Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca was in charge of arrangements.

Don Arthur Larimore was born in Avoca on 4 Nov. 1919 in the third house north of the United Church which has now been torn down. He was the son of Arthur & Elsie (SCHILLING) Larimore and was one of four children in the family.

His family moved to Monroe, NE and that is where he grew up and attended school, graduating in 1973. Don and his family returned to Avoca later in 1937. He worked around the area for various farmers and also worked for the Rock Island Railroad and the Gamble Store.

Don enlised in the Navy in 1941 and was sent to Idaho for his booth training. He later received a medical discharge because of an injury he had sustained at at the age of 19.

He then went to California to work for Douglas Aircraft builing airplanes. When the war began, Don helped build war planes and bombers.

While in California, Don married Harriet APPLEGATE on 14 Apr 1941 in Venice. They had met previously in Oakland, IA, Harriet's hometown. They were not blessed with childen but enjoyed a good life together for 63 years until Hattie died on 12 May 2004.

Don & Hattie returned to the Avoca area and Don bought a cream route, working for the Avoca Creamery for 18 years. After selling his route, he purchased the Avoca Bowling Lanes and they both worked there for 19 years. It was sold and Don worked as a rural mail carrier until he retired in 1984.

Don was a member of the United Church of Avoca. . . He lived in the same houe since 1955. He was also a member of the Pottawattamie County Last Man's Club, never missing a meeting. He has been a member of the Avoca American Legion Post since 1941.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Hattie. Don is survived by three sisters, Phyllis BINTZ and her husband Earl, of Neola, IA, Robin THOMSEN and her husband Beaner, of Kimballton, IA, and Colleen RUTENBECK of Des Moines,IA; nieces and nephews, Gale BINTZ, Becky JACOBSEN, Mary LEFEBER, Collette RUTENBECK, Charles RUTENBECK, Cris BRIGER, Lori PETTERS, Dawn SCHUEMAN, Sally JACOBSEN, George APPLEGATE, Cynthia APPLEGATE, Shirlee MATTHEWS, Nancy STOUT, Donna Jo PRICE and Brian APPLEGATE; many great-nieces and great-nephews and many friends.

Avoca, IA "Journal-Herald" 6 Sep 2007, p.4