Robert Carl Larson was born on July 8, 1925, in Oklahoma City, and died on October 15, 2018, at his home in Tulsa surrounded by his family. He was the son of William Hans and Hazel Christie Larson and younger brother of Bill Larson. He met the love of his life, Mary Carolyn Cole, in Oklahoma City and they were married in March 1950. Bob and Mary were blessed with four children: Christy Lyn Larson, Katherine Cole Larson, Robert Carl Larson Jr., and Elizabeth Mary Larson.
Bob was a proud veteran of World War II and an independent oil and gas geologist. Bob enlisted in the Army immediately after graduating from high school and served with the 103d Infantry Division in France and Germany during the fall and winter of 1944-1945. After serving his country, Bob enrolled at the University of Oklahoma and graduated with a degree in geology in 1949. He worked as a geologist in Ardmore and Oklahoma City for a few years before he and his wife moved to Tulsa to start his own company, Larson Exploration. He was an independent oil and gas geologist for the rest of his life, never wanting to retire from the oil and gas exploration he loved.
Bob was known for letting the dandelions bloom in his yard while learning to fly, paint, and play tennis. Soon after moving in Tulsa, Bob trained for his private pilot license and shortly after completing his, encouraged his wife Mary to get hers as well. On family trips, their children felt safe with two qualified pilots in the cockpit. Bob and Mary started tennis lessons next and were members of the Tulsa Tennis Club for many years, playing well into their 70s. Painting lessons were next for Bob, and today his home is filled with his paintings. One award winning painting is of his youngest daughter smelling the dandelions in their yard.
No account of Bob's life could be complete without saying that he was a fisherman. Bob and his best friend Ed Fretwell started fishing by the time they 6 years old with crickets and worms at a local lake in Oklahoma City, and continued throughout their lives taking their adventures to New Mexico and Alaska. Bob became an fly fisherman, tying all his own gear. He loved teaching his children to fish as well, and actively followed the progress as that love of fishing was passed down to his grandchildren.
As Bob reached his 90s, his health began to keep him close to home. His youngest daughter and one of his grandchildren moved into the family home to make it possible for him to stay at home. Graham and his brother Mason brought energy and joy into the home during Bob's last years. His grandson Carl Larson, and Carl's fiancee, of Berkeley, California, set a date to get married in the summer of 2018, they decided to take their wedding to Tulsa so Bob could attend. The family gathered over Labor Day weekend for Carl and Emily's wedding, held at the family home. His granddaughter Lydia put her nursing skills to work to make the event run smoothly. Although Bob could no longer fish during these last years, he was always glad to get fishing reports and photos from grandkids Joe and Maia Larson.
Bob and Mary's son Bob Larson Jr, died in 2004. Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years Mary Larson; his brother Billy (Hilda) Larson of Michigan; daughters Christie Lyn Larson of Tulsa, Katherine Cole Larson of Greenbrier, Arkansas, Beth Larson of Tulsa, daughter-in-law Carol Studenmund (Jay Hutchins) of Portland, Oregon; and grandchildren Carl (Emily) Larson, Lydia (Michael) Maguire, Joe Larson, Maia Larson, Graham Cifelli, and Mason Cifelli. Bob is also survived by beloved family members Richard Cifelli and Patrick "Red" Dennis.
A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on January 12 at Rosewood Chapel in Tulsa. Memorial donations may be made to two of Bob's favorite organizations: The Nature Conservancy and Trout Unlimited.