Terry

Forestport- Terrence R. Larkin, 101, of River Road, passed away suddenly on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Utica, just one-week shy of his 102nd birthday.

Affectionately known as Terry, he was born in Davenport, Iowa, on March 11, 1921, a son of Peter and Bertha Maack Larkin. Before Terry was three weeks old, his father passed away suddenly, and Terry moved to Forestport with his family. When relating the above, in keeping with his sharp wit and sense of humor, Terry would proclaim that he remembered getting off the train at Forestport Station when he was just weeks old.

Terry continued to grow up in Forestport, living on Dutch Hill and attending Forestport Central School. Later he and his family moved to Brooklyn, where he continued his education. Before WW II, Terry returned to Forestport and purchased what became the Larkin home on River St.

On December 28, 1942, Mr. Larkin entered the service of his country, serving in the U.S. Army, with the 1881st Engineer Battalion in the in the Pacific Theater of WW II. Corporal Larkin saw action throughout Pacific Theater, stationed in Luzon, Bismarck Archipelago, Southern Philippines and New Guinea, where he was wounded in action, during a mission to observe a Japanese airstrip.

From December, 1943, to September, 1944, his unit of the Aviation Engineers, participated in 10 major landings and also facilitated and enhanced tactical and strategic air power for the forces, resulting in increased support for our ground troop units to drive the Japanese troops out of their respective areas. On December 5, 1945, he was honorably discharged with the rank of Tec 5, from Fort Dix, NJ. For his meritorious service, Corporal Larkin was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal W/Bronze Arrowhead, Good Conduct Medal, Philippines Liberation Ribbon W/2 Bronze Stars embossed on the ribbon, a Purple Heart and the World War II Victory Medal.

On February 16, 2023, in a ceremony taking place at the Forestport Diner, and lead by Senator Joe Griffo, Mr. Larkin was awarded The New York State Senate Liberty Medal, which commemorated his service to the United States, while serving his country in WWII. The Liberty Medal is one of the highest civilian honors a New Yorker can receive and is presented to individuals who have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic or humanitarian acts and achievements on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers.

Following his military service, Terry returned to Forestport. For over thirty years, Mr. Larkin was employed as a parachute packer, for the U.S. Department of Defense at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome.

On December 20, 1947, Terry was united in marriage with Louise Jones, of Boonville. Mrs. Larkin passed away on November 19, 1995. After Terry’s retirement, he and Louise enjoyed spending many winters in Florida.

To refer to Terry as playing the role of “Mr. Forestport,” is an understatement. He was a member of the Forestport Presbyterian Church and for many years he volunteered in preparation for and as he would say, “straightening up,” after church related dinners, bazaars and other events, as well as assisting with events at the Forestport Fire Hall and Fire Fighters. Terry served as the ribbon cutter on the new River Road Bridges over the Black River grand opening ceremony, on September 29, 2013. For many years he greatly enjoyed visiting with and entertaining family and friends on his front porch during the summer and watching the Water Ball Competition during Old Forestport Days. When he was past the age of 97, he suited up and participated in the Water Ball contest. He was a daily fixture “in time for Breakfast,” at the Forestport Diner.

He was a member of Charles J. Love Post American Legion of Harlan J. Hennessey Post V.F.W., both of Boonville and on November 29, 2018, in Foresport, Terry was presented with a Lifetime Membership in the Order of the Purple Heart.

Terry was renowned for and will be fondly remembered for his lightning quick wit, sharp sense of humor and funny sayings. In addition, he was a talented artist who painted oil paintings and further reflected his sense of humor with his wooden creations of a tax shelter, “Forestport Flash Light,” exploding out-house, “Spouse Remote Control,” Donut Trees, and Donut Seeds and of course, his creation of a “Quarter Pounder,” which are all unforgettable. Most of all, Terry was a humble person who loved and served his fellowman and a person who always wanted to avoid the limelight. His advice to live a long life was “to stay active and avoid doctors!”

In addition to his son, Raymond, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Terry is survived by his granddaughter in law, Jesse Larkin; great grandsons, Andrew and Terry, all of Council Bluff, IA. He was predeceased by a grandsons Eric Larkin and Ed Lyon and by his daughter in law, Donna Larkin, in November, 2022. Also surviving is a grandson, Bill and Debra Lyon, Prospect, and their family, Alexis Lyon, Adrienne Lyon, Brad Porter and Eric Porter, many nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Terry was the last of his siblings and was predeceased by nine brothers; George, Raymond, Halley, Homer, Gene, Peter, Bill, Marx (Mike), who was killed in action while serving in the U.S. Army, in Germany, in WWII, on April 11, 1945, Larry and by one sister, Veronica (Larkin) St. Denis.

Terry’s family wishes to express a note of heartfelt thanks and grateful appreciation to the many “Kind Folks of Forestport,” who, through the years kept an eye on Terry and enabled Terry to live in his home until he passed away.

Visitation hours are Saturday, March 11, 2023, from 10:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville, where funeral services will begin at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday. Interment with Military Rites will be in the spring in Beechwood Cemetery, Forestport. Memorial contributions may be made to Forestport Presbyterian Church, 11298 Woodhull Road, Forestport, NY 13338 or to The Forestport Firefighters, Inc., 11965 River Road, Forestport, NY 13338.