Clifton C. Larson

Lexington – Mr. Clifton Colby Larson, of Lexington, formerly of Waltham, died Sunday, July 14, 2013 in Brookhaven Nursing Center in Lexington. He was 93.

Cliff was born in Waltham on March 10, 1920 a son of the late Colby and Lillian (Armstrong) Larson. He was a graduate of Waltham High School and had lived in Waltham until 1950 when he moved to Lexington. He married Doris M. Marshall on April 18, 1948.

In October of 1943 he enlisted in the United States Army Signals Corps and spent the next ten months in training school to become a radio technician. Shortly after his Signal Corps experience he enlisted with the Army Air Corps Cadet Program and seven months later graduated from the Honda (Texas) Navigation School as a 2nd Lieutenant Navigator. Cliff was then assigned to the crew of a B-29 bomber and spent three months in training before reporting to the 882nd Bombardment Squadron stationed in the Pacific island chain known as the Marianas.

After a lengthy flight with one stop in Hawaii and a second on a desolated island he and his crew arrived in Saipan. From this location he flew twenty-five bombing missions against the Japanese homeland and at the conclusion of the war he flew support missions to provide the prisoner of war camps with much needed supplies.

Upon his discharge in July, 1946 he started a business, Graphic Microfilm of New England Inc., which provided businesses with microfilming services and equipment. He retired as president of the company in 1985.

An avid golfer he was a sixty-three year member and a past president of Woodland Golf Club in Newton. Cliff was also a member and past president of the New England Senior Golfers Association. Cliff also belonged to First Lutheran Church in Waltham his entire life.

His wife, Doris, died August 14, 2003 and he was also predeceased by his brother, Gordon Larson.

He leaves his son, James C. Larson and his wife, Susan of Hudson; his grandsons, Eric J. Larson and Shaun D. Larson and his wife, Melissa, all of Hudson; his sister, Marilyn Anderson of York, Maine; his brother-in-law, John Marshall and his wife, Sheila, of Woburn and several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Cliff's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, July 17th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again on Thursday morning in First Lutheran Church, 6 Eddy Street, Waltham where his Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Westview Cemetery, Lexington.

Memorials may be made to Brookhaven at Lexington, 1010 Waltham Street, Lexington 02421.