Regina Larson

Regina Lee Johnson Larson, 88, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, at the Lutheran Home.

She was an Episcopalian with strong faith in a loving God. After 12 years of suffering from Alzheimer's disease, her loving family knows that she is now whole again in heaven.

Before she passed away, her adult children Mark Gordon Larson, Jeanine Larson Dobbins, and son-in-law Kenneth W. Dobbins, were able to say their last goodbyes. We know she is "free at last."

Regina was born Oct. 31, 1924, in Akron, Ohio, to Corda Jane and Gordon Everett Johnson. She and Ralph Harold Larson were married March 20, 1948. During the 62 years they were married, before Ralph preceded her, theirs was a match made in heaven. How they loved one another!!

Her parents wanted her to go to college because she was academically inclined. Instead her interest was in the field of business. After high school she became an executive secretary to the highest executives at Firestone Tire and Rubber Co.

After Regina and Ralph's second child was born, she became a full-time mom who was active in the PTA, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, University of Akron Women's Club, Stan Hywett cultural events for couples and children and Hardesty Park children's and family events. She loved to entertain and kept up with fashion trends. She knew how to budget carefully and had a full life for many decades.

Regina was a loving and wise mom. In the 1950s through the onset of her disease in 2000, she taught many spiritual and ethical lessons "not only with her lips, but in her life" that stand the test of time. Some examples of these include to love God and others the way God loves us. She also taught that manners truly help us to honor other people and show them we care. Another teaching was that peer pressure should not cause us to make poor decisions. Also, never to lie, cheat or steal, and the importance of saying "I'm sorry" when it needs to be said or written.

After her children were old enough, Regina re-entered the business world as a real estate agent. After a few years she was one of the top real estate agents in Akron. Her goal was not only to earn a good living, but to find each of her clients the right home. Her method of conducting business spread by word-of-mouth -- thus her success in the field.

An only child, Regina is survived by her adult children named above. Surviving grandchildren include Paul Larson Dobbins (Stacey), Cecilia Marie Hendrix (Zach), Mark Gordon Larson Jr., Catherine Regina Larson; and nine great-grandchildren.

Jeanine, Ken and Mark will honor Regina with a gift to the Washington National (Episcopal) Cathedral.

Private family services are planned as requested by Regina when her disease was diagnosed.

Due to extreme allergies, no flowers can be accepted. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Regina L. Larson Memorial Fund at Southeast Missouri State University Foundation, 1 University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Crain Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.