John R. Larkin, 87, died of prostate cancer on January 3, 2008 at his home in Annapolis. Born July 26, 1920 in Baltimore, the son of John and Alma Larkin, Mr. Larkin graduated from Mt. St. Joseph's High School in 1939. He attended the Johns Hopkins University.

Mr. Larkin, who was working for the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, joined the Navy in early 1942 with the desire of becoming a naval aviator. His solo flight was just 5 months later. More advanced training took him to Kansas, Texas and Florida before deploying for the Pacific aboard the carrier escort USS Nassau where they joined Admiral Nimitz's famous Task Force 58. He then transferred with his dive bomber to the USS Intrepid where he flew his first combat mission in the battle of the Philippines. Mr. Larkin's last mission from the Intrepid was almost life ending. As he landed on the flight deck, the ship came under heavy Kamikaze attacks. A Kamikaze struck the side of the carrier causing serious damage that required it to withdraw to Pearl Harbor for repairs. Because of his combat experience, then Lieutenant Larkin was transferred to the USS Essex, known as "the fighting's ship in the Navy," flying a "Hellcat" fighter for the remainder of the war in the Pacific. During this time, while attached to the ship's catapult, with engine running awaiting take off, the task force came under attack from hundreds of Kamikazes. With the Essex taking evasive actions, he opened his cockpit canopy, pulled out his revolver, and started shooting at incoming suicide aircraft. When asked later why he used his weapon, he said "I thought there was no reason to just sit there and be killed without firing a single shot." On Sept. 2, 1945 Mr. Larkin and other members of his Carrier Air Group 83 had the honor of flying the combat air patrol to protect the USS Missouri in Tokyo harbor to guard the surrender of Japan by Emperor Hirohito that end combat in World War II. There were concerns that radicals would attack the ship to prevent the signing of the surrender documents. Among his numerous awards were three Distinguished Flying Crosses, Six Air Medals and a Presidential Unit Citation.

After the war, Mr. Larkin returned to the Gas and Electric Company and then moved on to a series of jobs including being a multi-state distributor for the Swank jewelry company, owning and operating Larkin's retail clothing store on Main Street in Annapolis, being a distributor for Gunther brewing company, and a real estate broker. In the early 1970's, he joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and later transferred to the National Security Agency where he worked until retirement from the federal government. Mr. Larkin was a communicant and usher for many years at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Severna Park. He enjoyed swimming and traveling and was a member of the Naval Academy Officer's and Faculty Club, the American Legion; the Coast Guard Auxiliary and volunteer with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police for both of whom he taught safe boating classes; and the American Association of Retired Persons where he taught safe driving courses. He was proceeded in death by his first wife, the former Mary Leah Morgan of Glen Burnie, MD. and also his second wife, Patricia McCusker Kalis of Arnold, Md. Surviving are one brother, Robert Lee Larkin of Baltimore, Md.; four daughters, Kathleen Hannemann of Peoria, Ill., Rosemary (Honey) Harrell of Tomball, TX., Linda Heinmuller of Catonsville, Md., and Deanna Paulis of Land O'Lakes, Fla.; and two sons, Jay Larkin of Arlington, Va. and Philip (Chip) Larkin of Annapolis, Md.; and nine grand children and five great-grand children. He is also survived by three step-children, Jay Kalis of Bethesda, Md., Kayzie Barr of Pines on Severn, Md., and Anne Paxton of Braddock Heights, Md., and two grand step children.

Visitation will be held on Monday from 2-4 and 6-8pm at Barranco & Sons, P.A. Severna Park Funeral Home, A Funeral Mass will be held at St. John the Evangelist Church on Tuesday, January 8, 2008, at 11am. Interment will be at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery Crownsville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to ones favorite charity. Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com