Obituary

Proud to be a native Texan and lifelong citizen of Plainview, Walter F. Larson was born on Sept. 26, 1930, to Walter W. Larson and Anita Jarvis Larson. He peacefully slipped into the great horizon on July 18, 2014, after a full and adventurous life. Upon graduation from Plainview High School, he attended American Flyers pilot training school in Fort Worth. He married his high school sweetheart Sharon Turner on April 9, 1950. He worked for Claude Hutcherson as a charter pilot and held special fond memories of the medical charter flights he flew. Later, he opened a Ferguson tractor dealership which became known as Larson-Turner Massey-Ferguson located at Fifth Street and Yonkers in Plainview. After selling the dealership to the James Brothers, he ventured into manufacturing high clearance tractors. He possessed a unique and uncanny ability to take what was good and make it awesome. These tractors were customized for a number of unique applications which included being used on tomato plantations, harvesting grapes and corn de-tasseling. He also manufactured Versa-trac highway sweepers. In the early 1970s, he began manufacturing amusement rides and is best known for the SuperLoops carnival ride, known today as The Ring of Fire. Featured in the movie "Big,"SuperLoops was the ride Tom Hanks was not big enough to ride. He retired from this business in 2007. Throughout the years he continued to have a tremendous passion for planes, trains and cars. He flew his own private planes for business and pleasure. He loved machinery and how it worked. He was fascinated by motors of all sizes and shape. If it had wheels along with a motor - well that was great! If it had wings and a propeller attached - even better! He spent endless happy hours listening to music of all genres. He especially loved gospel music. He truly felt the music in his heart. He is preceded in death by a daughter, Melinda Larson. He is survived by his wife of more than 64 years, Sharon Larson; sister Sally Hale of Lubbock; daughters, Sarah Larson of Elgin, Texas, Loretta Haynes and husband Jim of Las Cruces, N.M., and Alice Kofahl and husband Lloyd of Dallas. He is survived by six grandchildren - Dr. Ann Marie Baker and her husband Dr. Chris Baker of Damon, Texas, Andrea Hebison and husband Kent of Lubbock, Larson Hampton and wife Brandi of Aledo, Texas, Katherine Kofahl, Laura Kofahl and Lee Kofahl, all of Dallas. He is survived by eight great-grandchildren, Aria Gras, Ainsley Baker, Preston Baker, Kayden Russell, Addison Hampton, Levi Hampton, Ashlynn Hebison and Zavery Hebison; nephews Tom Andrews of Bowling Green, Va., Jim Andrews of Lubbock, and niece Anita Page of Lubbock. Memorial services for Walter F. Larson will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, July 21, 2014, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Jennifer Holder officiating. Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, July 21, in Plainview Cemetery under the direction of Bartley Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. today, July 20, at the funeral home. The family would like to say a special thank you to those who so kindly helped care for him during his later years in life - Fernando and Angel Falcon, Martha Barrera, the staff at Prairie House, Plainview EMS, Covenant Hospital Plainview and many special friends and neighbors. Memorial contributions may be made to: St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 710 Joliet St., Plainview, TX 79072 or Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, 600 SW 11th Ave., Amarillo, TX 79101 or to one's favorite charity.