Larry Alliton Stinson died at home after a brief illness (non-COVID related) on October 27,2020 in Townville, SC at the age of 80.
Larry is survived by his wife, Joan Keck Stinson of Townville, SC; children, Kathy Stinson Farmer (Andy) of Anderson, SC, Melissa Stinson Hanson (Stacey) of Warner Robins, GA, and Matthew Alliton Stinson of Roswell, GA; and brother, Robert J. Stinson of Lawton, OK. His grandchildren are Joey (Ruth) Farmer, Sarah (Caleb) Senn, Graham Farmer, Jacob Barclay, Kaylee Barclay, and Christopher Stinson, and his great-grand daughter, Elinor Senn.
Larry was born on April 2, 1940 in Geneva, IL. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1963 with degrees in Science Engineering and Electrical Engineering while on the Holloway Plan (a US Navy scholarship program to develop Naval officers from top universities). He married Joan, his college sweetheart, a graduate student in 1963.
He was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy immediately after graduation. Larry served for over six years on active duty working as a Nuclear Engineer for Admiral Hyman G. Rickover and was at one time responsible for the refueling and overhaul of the entire nuclear submarine fleet and over half the nuclear surface fleet. He was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant (O-3) in 1969 and began public service as a civilian nuclear engineer in the Department of the Navy continuing his work for Admiral Rickover.
He continued his career in public service as a nuclear engineer with the Atomic Research Commission and the Potomac Electric Power Company and finished his engineering career in the private sector.
Over the years, the couple welcomed three children and Larry and Joan set about teaching them their faith and family work ethic. His wife and children remember his devotion and sacrifice to his children’s passions of competitive swimming (across the southeastern US) and high school football and his commitment to civic duty, which included overhauling the US Amateur swimming program in Louisiana and serving as an officer and board member of the Sertoma Club in Anderson, SC. He was twice awarded Sertoman of the year for his club and once for the region.
They also remember him as a driven father who encouraged them to higher education and to pursue their goals.
He was an avid amateur genealogist, numismatist, philatelist and had been an active and dedicated member and volunteer of the United Methodist Church.
After cremation, a private inurnment with military honors is scheduled for November 13, 2020 at M.J. "Dolly" Cooper Veterans Cemetery. Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Stacey L. Hanson, son-in-law, will officiate. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Anderson Sertoma Club at PO Box 1554 Anderson, SC 29622. Condolences can be sent to 221 Stelling Drive, Townville, SC 29689 or by visiting www.standardfuneralcenter.com.
The family would like to thank the first responders of the Fork Rescue Squad of Townville, for their courageous efforts to revive Larry and comfort Joan and family on the day of his death.
THE STANDARD CREMATION & FUNERAL CENTER 1621 Pearman Dairy Rd. Anderson, SC 29625