Lt. Colonel Erik Larsen

Lt. Colonel Erik Larsen (Ret. USMC) passed away at 2015 hours on April 14, 2017 surrounded by his closest family and friends. He was a devoted husband of 43 years to Beverly Larsen and 9 years to Sandra Larsen; Beloved father to Pamela Stack (Craig) and Kirk Larsen (Gina); and leaves a lifetime legacy to the world with his grandchildren Evan, Kristen & Peyton Stack and Clayton Larsen; Step-children, David Sanders (Susan), Benjamin Sanders (Jada), Terry Sanders, Amy Cochran (Jerry); six step-grandchildren, and a close family friends Lee and Kim Powell. Lt. Colonel Larsen was born on May 12, 1933 in Mount Kisco NY, the son of Danish immigrant parents, Vilhemine & Poul Larsen. He is a graduate of the Marine Corps Officers Training School and received his undergraduate degree from George Washington University. He flew experimental aircraft as a Marine Test Pilot from 1963-66 before serving a tour in Vietnam as a Marine Helicopter pilot (1967-68) and a tour in Okinawa Japan (1972). His final years in service to his country were spent in Washington DC at Quantico Marine Corps Headquarters (4 years) and the Pentagon (4 years). After 23 years of service he retired in 1976 and moved his family to their 105-acre farm in Burnt Chimney VA and in retirement, served more than 25 years as a Franklin County Magistrate. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Beverly, his brother Paul and his grandson Austin Erik. In lieu of flowers, his wife Sandra is asking friends and family to buy a bottle of your favorite wine and raise a toast to a wonderful man, father, husband, grandfather and Marine. Rest well Lt. Colonel Larsen. Mission accomplished. Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors, 11:00 a.m. April 12, 2018. His family will receive friends 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center, Rocky Mount.