A livestream of Tom's service will be available at www.facebook.com/EvansChapel approximately 5 minutes prior to the service.

Thomas Herbert Larsen passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 surrounded by his wife of 70 years and loved ones. Tom was 91 years old and was living with his wife, Sue, in their own home in Anacortes, Washington.

Tom was born on November 8, 1930 at Cleveland Hospital. Originally, he lived in a suburb of Cleveland –Lakewood, Ohio. He later moved to Rocky River and finally to Bay Village where he met Sue Horton, his future wife. Tom spent many of his childhood summers in Wisconsin visiting his mom's family and cousins on the family farm in Menominee and his dad's family in Bayfield on Lake Superior.

Tom and Sue met sophomore year of high school (1945) at Bay Village High School and were high school sweethearts, graduating together in 1948. Tom served in the Air Force from 1950 to 1954 at Lackland/Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas where he was a bombardier instructor. During his service, he and Sue were married at Bay Village Presbyterian Church on June 14, 1952, and lived in San Antonio, where they welcomed their first child, Leni. They moved to Columbus in 1954 and Tom started school at The Ohio State University to earn his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree in 1959. During that time, they welcomed two more daughters, Wendy and Laurie.

Tom and Sue lived in north Columbus (Clintonville) for 29 years. Together they were involved in many activities – they sang in the church choir, were members of a square dance club, and hosted two students through the American Field Service (an international youth exchange organization)—Marianne Engesvik and Sabina Breit Whiteus. During these years on Brevoort Road, Tom and Sue enjoyed close neighborhood friendships and hosted many family and friend celebrations.

Prominent in business, Tom's first job as an engineer was with H.A. Williams and Associates, where he worked his way up to Associate Engineer. He also taught engineering classes at Columbus Technical Institute. Tom founded Larsen Engineering Inc. in 1976, an HVAC and electrical engineering consulting company. He later partnered in this business with his cousin, Dennis Williams. Throughout his career, Tom was an active member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Tom worked as a Professional Engineer until retirement in 1995 and maintained his license long into his retirement.

With a song in his heart, Tom was an avid barbershopper throughout his adult life. He joined the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) in 1959. Over the years, Tom found a barbershop chorus wherever he could; he sang with The Singing Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio, directed the Miami Valley Music Men in Dayton, Ohio, and sang and directed the An-O-Chords in Anacortes, Washington. He also sang in many quartets over the years, including the Cane Razors with his brother-in-law Bill Horton, the Old Hats, and the Four-Get-Me-Notes. As an active member in each chorus he was named Barbershopper of the Year (1965), was Chapter President for the Singing Buckeyes (1966-1967), was Director for the Miami Valley Music Men and An-O-Chords, and acted as a barbershop coach for numerous quartets. One of his favorite activities was "woodshedding" tags with fellow singers. He was an active member of Sage Lake, a getaway retreat for long-time barbershop enthusiasts, and looking to inspire the next generation in song, Tom sponsored many of his grandchildren to go to Harmony Camp, a barbershop overnight camp for high schoolers.

In 1968 Tom and Sue purchased a cottage in German Village, Ohio. With assistance from many family members and friends, they renovated and owned five houses (three duplexes) as rentals. Tom and Sue moved to one of these homes in German Village in 1988. The German Village Society recognized the quality of their renovations and gardens by asking for each of Tom's and Sue's houses to be on the German Village House and Garden Tour. Tom was very active in the German Village community, where he served on the German Village Commission, helped in the purchase and renovation of the Meeting Haus, was an active member of the German Village Society; and enjoyed participating in Village gatherings, such as Spot Night potluck events. In 2003, Tom and Sue were awarded the Frank Fetch Award for outstanding service to the German Village community.

While in Columbus, Tom and Sue were members of the Hoover Sailing Club, where they first learned to sail. They then continued to enjoy the social and sailing activities at the club. Tom and Sue learned to sail a Windmill sailboat, then moved up to bigger class sailboats through advanced sailing lessons at Chesapeake Bay. In 1986, they began sailing throughout the San Juan Islands in Washington State, sometimes chartering a Dana 24, "The Green Envy", on their own. One of their favorite destinations was Echo Bay on Sucia Island. It was on one of these trips that they fell in love with Anacortes. It had all they loved: water, sail boats, barbershopping, artistry, and a welcoming community. At 80 years old they built a house and moved to Anacortes.  Tom and Sue later joined the choir at the Anacortes Lutheran Church, and Tom often sang in a quartet for church services. Tom and Sue were residents of Anacortes for 12 years, from 2010 to 2022.

Tom was preceded in death by Herbert Bertram Larsen (father) and Clara M. Koolmo Larsen (mother). Tom is survived by his loving wife Sue Horton Larsen; three daughters Leni Larsen Heller (Max), Wendy Larsen Christensen (Dave), Laurie Larsen Quill (John); seven grandchildren Beth Turner (Mike), Stephanie Cowan, Erik Heller (Lindsey), Michael Quill (Kim), Lindsey Heller, Ryan Heller (Suzie), Madeline Bouché (Greg); eight great grandchildren Ethan Turner, Alexis Cowan, Lorelai Turner, Brigetta Heller, Max Turner, Wolfgang Heller, Liam Quill, Eleanor Bouché; and sister Lenora Mae Larsen Habenicht.

A memorial service will be held for Tom on:

Date:             October 29, 2022.

Time:            1:00 PDT, A livestream of Tom's service will be available at www.facebook.com/EvansChapel approximately 5 minutes prior to the service.

Reception: After the service at Evans Chapel

Location:     Evans Funeral Chapel

1105 32 St.

Anacortes, WA 98221

In lieu of flowers donations in Tom's name may be given to the American Cancer Society.