Robert Larson

Biography

Bob Larson was born on Jan. 22, 1926 in Los Angeles to Gus and Helene Larson. Gus had taken a temporary assignment to assist in the construction of the Los Angeles City Hall. The family then returned to Salt Lake City in about 1927. Bob grew up on Dresden Place on 9th East and 9th South. He graduated from East High in 1942. WWII found him enlisted in the Navy Aviation Service from 1943 to 1946. During and after his military service, he attended Univ. of Colorado, Wright Jr. College in Chicago, Utah State Univ., and Univ. of Utah, receiving a law degree from Utah College of Law in 1951. After forming a law partnership with classmates Lee Hobbs and Bill Granger and practicing together for a couple years, Bob left the firm and started a new career with Northwestern Insurance Company, later known as Unigard Ins. Co., where he worked his way up through the ranks of the Claims Department over the next couple decades. He served in several management positions in Los Angeles, Fresno, Raleigh N.C., and Salt Lake City. For 13 years he was the head manager over all claims departments in the 14 states in the southeast USA. He later left Unigard and worked for C.W. Reese Co. in SLC.
Bob was a leader in many professional and community organizations, including the Utah Insurance Guarantee Assoc., Utah Hands Up, Olympus Kiwanis Club, Universlty Club, Blue Goose International, N. C. Special Arbitration Committee, California and N.C. Nationwide Arbitration Committees, Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, and SLC Jaycees, Active Club, Moose and American Legion. Bob was active in Democratic Party politics, and made a bid for the Utah Legislature in the early 50s.
In June, 1948, Bob married “my adorable soul-mate and love of my life, Jean Campbell.” They had two sons, Robert Cordell Larson of Tacoma and Lary Shane Larson of Idaho Falls. Bob is survived by Jean, Robert and Lary, his sister Beverly White of Tooele, his brother Steven Larson of Denning, N.M., many nieces and nephews, two daughters-in-law, eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, over four-hundred cousins, and his many friends with whom he had the good fortune to share his life.
His parting wishes were, “I have very little of substance to leave any of them except my eternal love and hope that they will pass it along.”
Family and friends are invited to join Jean and the boys for a Celebration of Life at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main St., Bountiful, Utah, starting at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2012.