8/19/22 ~ 3/30/03
E. Dixon Larson, as he preferred to be called, died March 30, 2003, at his home in Orem, Utah.
He was born August 19, 1922, in Logan, Utah, the son of Ernest O. and Idona Blanchard Larson. He married Shirley Mary Simmons August 7, 1943. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He grew up in the Salt Lake area, until 1938, when his father was transferred to Provo to engineer the construction of the Deer Creek Dam. He graduated from Provo High School in 1939, and was a cheerleader during his senior high school year. He was an alumni of Utah State University and a licensed Professional Engineer, doing consulting work for several construction companies at home.
He was employed by United States Steel Corporation for 38 years, in the Engineering Department, holding many positions in management, taking an early retirement in 1983 from his position as General Supervisor of Fuel and Utility Engineering, a position he held for 16 years. He held three patents of mechanical devices he developed for U.S. Steel during his career.
He served as a member of the Orem City Council for eight years and a member for 12 years on the Orem City Metropolitan Water Board. He also served in the Auxiliary Police for many years, commissioned Lt. Colonel in the Utah State Guard by Governor Rampton, after his service of nine years. He was active in the Orem Jaycee and Chamber of Commerce who accelerated the purchase of Orem's first fire engine and ambulances, all maintained by volunteers of the Orem Chamber of Commerce.
One of his main interests has been the study of antique and historic weapons, and their related history, which led to his authorship of two books, and many articles for Major Fire Arms publications. He also wrote for five State Trooper Highway Patrol magazines and was a close friend to many of the Troopers. He wrote for 12 issues of "Tumbleweed Towns" for the Sons of the Utah Pioneers magazine. He and his family traveled to most of the ghost towns of Utah collecting research and material for the articles.
He is survived by - as he often said - "his most valuable possessions": his wife, Shirley, two children, a son, Steven R. (Cheryl) Larson and a daughter, Michelle (Kim) Crawford of Orem; five grandchildren: Haley (Mark) Hayes, Chelsea Ellis, McKeon Crawford, Jace and Jess E. Larson and one great grandchild, Lily Hayes; one sister, Joan (Don) Ware of Salt Lake City. His greatest joy was his family, whom he loved and supported in every way.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 3, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. in the Sharon First Ward Chapel, 641 South 400 East, Orem, Utah. Friends may call Wednesday evening at the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Thursday morning at the Church from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. prior to service. Burial will be in the Orem City Cemetery.