Obituary for Charles Newton Larkin M.D.

 

Dr. Charles Newton "Tucker" Larkin passed away June 9, 2017. Born in Memphis on September 18, 1946, he is preceded in death by his parents Gloria McCormick Larkin and Elton Larkin; his uncles, Dr. John C. Larkin and Gerald J. Larkin; and his brother-in-law, William "Billy" Ayres.

 

He graduated from Christian Brothers High School where he was a member of the CBHS Hall of Fame. He attended the University of Memphis (then Memphis State University) and went on to attend the University of Tennessee Medical School receiving a degree in Pediatric Medicine. He served in the United States Navy in North Carolina as a Lieutenant Colonel during his first years as a pediatrician.

 

Upon moving back to Memphis, he joined Pediatrics East and spent the next 34 years of his career there. Throughout his career as a pediatrician, he was extremely active in the Memphis medical community. He served as past president of the Memphis & Shelby County Medical Society, and was an active member of the Memphis Pediatric Society, the Tennessee Medical Association, the American Medical Association. He also served on the Board of the Select Health Science of Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, and received such honors as being named one of "America's Top Pediatricians" as well as one of "Memphis' Top Doctors". At his retirement, he was asked what he would miss the most about working. His response, "All my children."

 

In his spare time, he enjoyed golf, traveling, sailing, scuba diving, fly fishing, and snow skiing. His hobbies found him traveling the world to further enjoy them. He was active in Ridgeway, Colonial, and TPC Country Clubs. He enjoyed reading and learning different languages. He also enjoyed being a Knights of the Vine member and traveling to California wine country. Charles was a communicant at St. Louis Catholic Church, where his family were founding members. Because of his devout faith, he was inducted into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem as a Knight Commander, and had the privilege to visit to the Holy Land with his beloved wife, Peggy.

 

He leaves behind his wife of 31 years, Peggy; a daughter Kelly Larkin Schade (Nick) and his only grandchild, his namesake, "Tucker"; brothers, Elton E. Larkin (Tina McFadden) of Memphis, Steve N. Larkin (Kathie Maddox) of Atlanta; sisters, Libba Nance (Dwain) of Memphis, Jeanne Ayres (the late William), and

 

Helen Larkin of Memphis. He also leaves behind a much-loved extended family, and many nieces and nephews from as far away as Turkey and Australia.

 

The family would like to thank Dr. Kurt Tauer and his staff for their extraordinary care at The West Clinic, and to the special personnel at Methodist Hospice. Special thanks to West Clinic infusion nurse, Rebecca Prate, a former patient of his, in making him comfortable and cared for during his visits.

 

The family will be receiving friends  5:00-7:00 PM on  June 13, 2017 at Memorial Park Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at Saint Louis Catholic Church at  10:00 AM on June 14, 2017followed by a private entombment in Memorial Park Cemetery.

 

The family requests any memorials be made to either St. Louis Catholic Church,

203 S. White Station Road, Memphis, TN 38117, the Memphis Medical Foundation, 1067 Cresthaven Road, Memphis. TN 38119; or the Herb Kosten Pancreatic Support Center, 6060 Poplar Ave, Suite 140, Memphis, TN 38119.