Eugenia Larson

Eugenia King Larson passed away peacefully on March 17th in Walnut Creek, CA, at the age of 87. She was born October 31st, 1938, in Walla Walla, Washington, to Harold G. King and A. Virginia Thompson and attended area schools. She graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, where she was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority, and where she met the love of her life, Gary H. Larson. They were married on June 12, 1960, in Walla Walla. Together they made homes in Berkeley, CA, Wilmington, DE, Creve Coeur, MO, and San Ramon, CA. Eugenia found deep solace in nature. She was never happier than when she was hiking, birding, and camping. Birding came naturally to her—she loved to learn, to catalogue and research, and to be outdoors. She supported numerous conservation organizations, frequently volunteering her time and leading birding trips. She also loved music, singing in church choirs, local opera productions, and with the St. Louis Symphony Chorus. Her Episcopal faith was entwined with her love of music. She was a lifelong learner who enjoyed sewing, knitting, board games, reading, traveling, collecting stamps, and photography. Eugenia shared 65 years of marriage with her beloved husband, Gary Hollis Larson—a partnership marked by devotion, steadiness, and enduring love. Together, they built a family that was the heart of her life. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, E. Neal King. She is survived by her husband, Gary; her sons, Peter, David, and Stephen (Shelley); her daughter, Laura Piotrowski (Steve); her brother, Peter N. King (Patricia); and her cousin, Carolyn Terry. She was a proud and loving grandmother to eleven grandchildren and great-grandmother to nine great-grandchildren, and is also survived by many nephews, great-nephews, and cousins. Eugenia will be remembered for her faithful and generous spirit. She will be deeply missed and forever cherished by all who knew her. A funeral service will be held on March 21st at 1:00 p.m. at St. Peters Anglican Church, 6013 Lawton Ave, Oakland, CA. Interment will take place on March 28th at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla, following a family service at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 323 Catherine St., Walla Walla, WA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Audubon Society or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Eugenia Larson

October 31, 1938 - March 17, 2026