Larkin A. Dellinger

Larkin Alden Dellinger, 82, of Washington, died on Monday, July 8, 2019, in Premier Washington County Health Center. He was born on September 5, 1936, in Morganton, NC, a son of the late Logan Ashley Dellinger and Mamie Leona Whisnant Dellinger Larkin graduated from Morganton High School, in Morganton, NC.  Growing up, he was an active member of Troop 8 Calvary Baptist Boy Scouts.  In his early life, he worked as a janitor in the church, a stocker in the grocery store, and as a laborer for the town of Morganton.  He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps. After moving to Pennsylvania, he worked for over 20 years at the Ruff Creek General Store.  He had his own furniture refinishing business for a time.  Mr. Dellinger became a licensed minister, and pastored the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for seven years.  After, he and his wife, Mary Jane, moved to the Thomas Campbell Apartments, he worked as the manager in their mini store for fifteen years. Larkin’s faith was very important to him.  In recent years, he enjoyed the fellowship of the Abundant Life Baptist Church, in Washington. He also was a long time member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church, in Ruff Creek, where he had served as a Deacon, and sang in the choir. He loved to read and study, especially the Bible, and other faith-based books.  He also spent many hours on genealogy, researching both his and Mary Jane’s family trees.  Larkin enjoyed doing needlepoint and cross stitch.  He liked his “sweets”, cookies, cakes, pies, and Pepsi, but especially mint chocolate chip Blizzards from Dairy Queen.  Most of all he loved God, Mary Jane, John , and his other family and friends. On January 1, 1963, he married Mary Jane Grimes, who survives.  Together they had one son, Louis Alden, who went to be with the Lord on November 30, 2006. Larkin has one brother, John Logan Dellinger.  John is married to Mary Jane’s sister, Margaret “Peggy” Grimes Dellinger, and they reside in Bossier City, LA.  He also leaves behind two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Simmons, of Crown Point, IN, and Helen (Ralph) Loughman, of McDonald; seven nieces and nephews; and several great nieces and great nephews.  Larkin had many friends who were a great help and blessing to him, especially Barb Hughes and Mark and Marty Poach. God Bless you Larkin.  Rest in peace now.  You will be missed by many for a time, but we know we will see each other again. Friends will be received on Friday, July 12, 2019, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., in the William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Ave., Washington, PA, where services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 13, 2019, with Pastor George Garancosky officiating.  Burial will follow in Ruff Creek Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Abundant Life Baptist Church, 269 Cameron Rd., Washington, PA 15301.