Frances Larkin
Age - 93
December 6, 2023
Frances A. Larkin, Ph. D. , Professor Emerita of Nutrition in the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan, died on December 1. 2023 after a brief illness. Fran was born on January 16, 1930 in Damascus, Ohio to Eleanor H. and Willard D. Larkin. Fran graduated from Whiteoak High School, Mowrystown, OH. She attended Earlham College before transferring to The Ohio State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Dietetics. After a year's internship at Duke University Hospital, she took a staff position as a Dietitian in Cleveland, OH. During her time there she was offered a fellowship at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN. This led to a master's degree from the University of Minnesota. After graduation, Fran took a position as an Assistant Professor at Long Beach State University, CA. After two years there Fran received an award from the Ford Foundation to teach at a girl's school in Dacca, East Pakistan (Bangladesh). After three years there, she entered graduate school at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, where she earned the Ph. D. . Fran's next stop was the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, as an Assistant Professor with the Human Nutrition Program at the School of Public Health. She was then an Associate professor and then Director of the Human Nutrition program. Her responsibilities included teaching and research. Her main research interests were in surveys of nutrition which led to many publications and books. She was awarded two sabbaticals at The National Institutes of Health to further her research. At her retirement from the University of Michigan in 1984 she was the Assistant Dean for Curriculum at the School of Public Health. After her retirement she moved to Hillsboro. She was an active member of the Hillsboro Women's Club, the Hillsboro Garden Club, and the Hillsboro AAUW. In 1998 she was inducted into the Highland County Women's Hall of Fame. Fran loved hummingbirds, her garden, her nephews and nieces and great-grand nephews and nieces located from Hawaii to Suwannee, FL. She had a quick dry wit and a wonderful sense of humor. She was interested in conservation and sustainability such as the Arc of Appalachia Conservation in Ohio. She was also ahead of her time, driving a hybrid car. She volunteered at Samaritan Outreach in Hillsboro and was active in the First Presbyterian Church of Hillsboro. She traveled often with her mother, Eleanor and later her niece Bonnie. She helped host yearly Larkin Family reunions with her cousins John and MaryAnn Larkin and family on the family Sesquicentennial Larkin Farm. She is survived by her brother Dr. Lynn H. Larkin (Marianne Preisler), her nieces and nephews Bonnie Zimmer, Kurt Hahn, Denny Larkin (Sandy), Lynn A. Larkin (Amanda), Lucian Larkin, Mary Jo Larkin ,Gretchen Hahn, Amy Zacharias(Tom), Ted Larkin (Emma Fristoe), David Larkin (Aimee Whitlock). She was predeceased by her brother and his wife, Joseph W. Larkin (Nancy) and sister and her husband, Rebecca Hahn (Donald). Visitation will be from 10-11:30 Saturday, December 9 at the Turner and Son Funeral Home, 602 N. High St. , Hillsboro. A memorial service will then begin at noon at First Presbyterian Church, 201 East Main St, followed by a luncheon at the church. In lieu of flowers, here are some of Fran's organizations to support: Highlands Nature Sanctuary (dba)Arc of Appalachia @7660 Cave Road, Bainbridge, OH 45612 or the American Friends Service Committee PO Box 98015 Washington, DC 20077-7384.Show more
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
