Kenneth C. Larson, Junior, aka Ken

Kenneth C. Larson, Junior, aka “Ken” was born on April 26, 1934 in North Arlington, New Jersey. He passed to heaven on December 22, 2024, surrounded by friends and family both here and in heaven.

Ken attended a one-room schoolhouse in Fairfield Township, Pennsylvania until he graduated from the 8th grade. His parents moved to Montoursville shortly after that so Ken could have better access to sports and friends. He lettered in football and spent two years in basketball. He graduated in 1952. While he was still 17 he listed in the naval reserves, but was never called by the president for active duty. He received an honorable discharge after serving for 14 years.

In 1951, Ken saw the love of his life at Sunday school, sitting directly in front of him. The following evening, he called her to ask if she would go on a date with him. She quickly said yes. Later he found out that out of the four boys sitting behind her, she didn’t know any of them and didn’t know which one she agreed to go on a date with. He teased her that she must have been hard up for dates for the rest of his life. In the fall of his junior year at Bucknell University, he ran away with Donabel to get married so they could be together full time. They got married in Virginia on October 9, 1954. On October 9th, 2024 they celebrated their 70th anniversary. Ken turned to Donabel as they were eating their celebratory cake and commented “Remember when we eloped and they said ‘give it ten years’… well, we sure showed them, didn’t we, Hun.”

Preceded in joining the Lord: Kenneth C. Larson, Senior, Ruth S. (Hall) Larson, Clarence Maneval and Ernestine Maneval

Survived by: sons, Keevin Larson, K. Clifford Larson III, Brian Larson, and Bradley Larson; daughters-in-law, Marti (Keevin) Larson, Lisa (Brian) Larson, and Monica (Bradley) Larson; grandchildren, Tawnya (Brett) Amdor, Chad (Lesley) Larson, Jessica (Harry) Lehman, Braden (Adrienne) Larson, Brock Larson, Blair (Christian) Atherholt, Audra, Ashley, and Tara Larson; great grandchildren, Wyatt (Hannah) Amdor, Abigail Amdor, Austin Larson, Aubrey Larson, Vivian Lehman, and Alice Lehman. He is survived by many loving friends.

Ken graduated from Bucknell in 1956. Afterwards he took a job with the Department of Forest and Water. He then met Bob McEwen and started his first company doing part-time work for Loyalsock Township as “Larson & McEwen.” Ken then went on to work at the Pennsylvania Department of Highways, which is now called PennDOT. In 1963 he was appointed to be in charge of all construction and maintenance responsibilities to the district of 8 counties. In 1966, he became the District Engineer and was the youngest District Engineer ever appointed. Some career accomplishments include completing routes 15 and I-80 in our district, which were from Loganton to Luzerne County and 15 from south of Selinsgrove to Snyder counties to the New York state line.

Shortly after, Ken was called by Harrisburg to be the liaison between their department and the new people from Governor Thornburg’s administration. Ken’s district was asked to be a pilot for computer-aided drafting and design. He was flown to Austin, Texas to learn and as soon as they got up to speed, they set up a unit in their district to help all the districts in the state with training and anything else they needed to implement CAD throughout Pennsylvania. Other special accomplishments include inspection of delinquent bridges and raising the money to repair them, and taking over Bradford County to improve their roads.

In 1986, Ken left PennDOT to join Bob Hunt, Fred LaVancher and a small group of engineers which would eventually be named in honor of Ken through employee popular vote. The Company grew to 50 employees who fully bought and renamed Larson Design Group in 1993, when Ken became the CEO. Ken’s vision was to create careers to keep talented engineers, architects, and surveyors in Lycoming County. Larson Design Group remains fully employee owned, and has expanded to several other locations throughout the United States. He retired in 2004, but remained on the Board of Directors, and was extremely proud of the Company’s continued success. To this day LDG attributes their core values to Ken, Bob, and Fred.

He followed all the sports and endeavors his sons and grandchildren participated in along with hunting and trips fishing in Canada.

Ken is lovingly remembered as being a doting husband, proud patriarch, and devoted Christian. He is regarded by many as “one of the finest men” they’ve ever met. To have known and loved him is a blessing, and he is greatly missed.

Funeral Service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, December 28, 2024, at Community Baptist Church, 1853 PA-87 Montoursville, with Pastor Greg Sanford officiating. Burial will follow at Montoursville Cemetery. Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McCarty Thomas Funeral Home, Montoursville.

In lieu of flowers, Ken wished for donations to be made to the SPCA, Community Baptist Church in Montoursville, and the Hospice program at UPMC.