John William Larimer, Jr, a Retired US Navy Veteran and Master Freemason, passed away peacefully at his Virginia Beach, VA home on January 6, 2025.
John, 86 was born on July 12,1938 in St. Petersburgh, FL to the late John Larimer, Sr. and Ruth Marie Davis. He was married to the love of his life, Priscilla Larimer, for 64 years.
John proudly served in the United States Navy for 22 years and retired on November 28, 1978. John was initially stationed in Key West, FL, where he served as a Submariner aboard several diesel/electric powered submarines, the USS Medregal, USS Balao USS Mackerel, USS Quillback and the USS Picuda. He received his silver dolphin’s submarine warfare insignia and was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroic actions in non-combat while onboard the USS Picuda.
John graduated first in class at the Underwater Swimmer School in Key West, FL. Later, he completed the Navy’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Training and was deployed to Vietnam. John served two tours in the Vietnam War, where he received the Bronze Star Medal with Valor (BSMV) for his heroic actions. John transferred to Concord, CA where he continued the Navy’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) program.
John was a longtime member of the fraternal organization of Freemasonry (Key West), which he joined in 1961. After his retirement from the military, John worked at Fairbanks Morse Defense in Norfolk, VA until 2000. He and his beloved wife enjoyed retirement life, which included John’s love for fishing, traveling to Florida in the winter, and being RV campers. Their favorite locations were Indian Cove Resort and MacDill Air Force Base.
John is survived by his three children, John III, Cathy and Charles, all of Virginia Beach, VA. He is the grandfather to John Larimer IV, Tiffany Deol (Prubh Singh), Maria, Charla, Brian Buxbaum (Amanda) and Kevin Buxbaum. He was also a Great Grandfather to Alyssa, Erika, Kristin, Johnny V, Leah and Rhyan. John is also survived by his brother Skip (Ed) Smalenberger (Arlene) of St. Petersburgh, FL, his sisters Judy Cameron (Norm), Sue Solitare, both of St. Petersburg, FL, Karen Boykin of TN, and Charnae Vicini (Don) of Raleigh, NC. He is preceded in death by his sisters Toni Sherman (Dr. Arthur) and Donna Davis.
Services will be held at Altmeyer Funeral Home (5033 Rouse Drive, Virginia Beach) at 11am on February 6, 2025, with a Military Honors burial at the Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veteran’s Cemetery (5310 Miners Road, Suffolk) at 2pm on February 6, 2025.