Dr. Walter William Larson (1928-2007)
LARSON, TOMLINSON, ALLEN, RUSSO
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 4/20/2007 at 08:37:38
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, April 19, 2007.
Sept. 12, 1928-April 14, 2007
Dr. Walter William Larson, 78, of Ames, died Saturday, April 14, surrounded by his family at Madrid Home. A private burial will be in Hillsdale Cemetery, east of Madrid. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Walter Larson was born Sept. 12, 1928, in Des Moines, to Ankeny W. and Grayce (Tomlinson) Larson. He grew up in Madrid and graduated from Madrid High School in 1946, where he earned the honor of salutatorian. After high school, he attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., from 1946 to 1949, where he participated in basketball and football. He also played semi-pro basketball in Rock Island, Ill.
Upon graduation, he attended the University of Iowa College of Medicine from 1949-53, and was elected to membership in Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Medical Society. He served his internship at St. Louis City Hospital from 1953-54.
In 1954, he graduated from the School of Aviation Medicine at Randolf AFB, Texas. He was a flight surgeon at Wright Patterson AFB from 1954-56.
In 1956, he began his pediatric residency at Raymond Blank Memorial Hospital in Des Moines and continued until 1958. While at Blank Children's Hospital, he participated in the nation's first live television broadcast of an intra cardiac surgery.
As the 12th member of McFarland Clinic in Ames, he began his pediatric practice in 1958 and retired in 1990. He assisted in the development of the first volume-controlled pediatric ventilator in conjunction with Bournes Electronic Corporation and the University of Iowa Department of Anesthesia throughout the 1960s.
In 1992, he continued to practice pediatrics as a locum tenens member of a National Physicians Group. In 1999, he began working with The Indian Health Service, with locations including Browning, Mont., and Belcourt, N.D., finally retiring in 2005. He practiced medicine for more than 50 years.
His professional memberships include the Story County Medical Society, American Medical Association, Iowa State Medical Society and Iowa Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics of which he was an officer.
Outside of work, he enjoyed sports, hunting, reading and music.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Arlene Bruce Larson; one daughter, Deborah Larson Allen and husband, Wayne, of Des Moines; one son, David Larson and wife, Tina, of Ames; and two grandsons, Jonathan and Ryan Larson, of Ames.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Homer K. Larson in 1993; and one granddaughter, Melissa Russo in 2005.
The family has requested memorial contributions be directed to Mary Greeley Medical Center Foundation in support of the Pediatrics Department or to the Madrid Home.
Sundberg-Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Madrid is in charge of arrangements.
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