Donald Everett Larkin

Donald Everett Larkin was born on May 3, 1940 in Gratiot County, Michigan to Richard and Doris Larkin, the second of five sons. He passed away suddenly from natural causes in his home on April 3, 2026 at the age of 85.

A year after graduating from Midland High School in 1958, he joined the US Air Force, serving for four years. Upon discharge, Don was sent to Osan AFB in South Korea to support government computer equipment by his employer, Burroughs, where he met and married the love of his life, Chong Cha (Kay) Yook.

After a long career with Unisys that ended in Virginia, Don returned with Chong Cha to Michigan in 1990 to open and operate the Wash Away Laundromat, a business that highlighted their partnership where Chong Cha knew no strangers and Don exercised his skills in maintenance & repair and accounting.

He fulfilled his life-long goal of flying, earning his wings and soloing at the age of 60. He was an active ham radio operator since 1972 (an “Elmer” for those who know) and a fiercely competitive cribbage player; a member of the Southern Michigan Amateur Radio Society and Cereal City Cribbage Club until his move to Grand Rapids in 2025.

Don was a frequently frustrated golfer, a sport he coerced Chong Cha into learning, and she quickly surpassed him in both skill and enthusiasm. In his retirement, he found joy in working part time as an assistant greenskeeper at Custer Greens Golf Course. He rooted for the Tigers in fair weather and foul and learned to love the Lions.

He was greatly respected for his ability to build things, including the house on Kirby Road and a tree fort in Sacramento. He could fix nearly anything from electronics to cars and appliances. He was a sometimes-patient teacher, requiring that his girls learn how to drive a stick shift, change a tire, and the oil in their cars before obtaining their driver’s licenses. He and Chong Cha passed on their love of adventure and camping on to their children in spite of traumatizing them with the spider-filled pit toilets of the state forest campgrounds of rural Michigan.

Don and Chong Cha maintained a strong community of faith and were long-time members of Convis Union United Methodist Church. He will be remembered for his sense of humor and steadfast nature but more than anything, for the love he had for his family.

Don is preceded in death by Chong Cha (March 24, 2007), both parents, his stepmother, Jean Geyer Larkin, and eldest brother Duane Wesley Larkin. He is survived by his brothers M. Terry (and Nancy), Doug (and Terry) and Dennis Larkin, and daughters Susan (and David) Peterson and Cindy (and Dennis) Kazee and grandchildren Zachary and Kaylee Kazee, and Kira and Lucas Hamelink.

Family will receive friends for visitation Saturday, April 11 at 9:00 a.m. at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Cremation Preneed Care, where a service to celebrate his life will be held at 10:00 a.m. The service will be livestreamed at https://vimeo.com/event/5853086. 

A reception will follow at Maple Methodist Church. Interment with military honors will take place at Fort Custer National Cemetery on Monday, April 13 at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Don’s ham radio club, Southern Michigan Amateur Radio Society, a registered Non-profit, PO Box 934, Battle Creek, MI 49016. Personal messages for Don’s family may be shared at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.