CLINTON — Dr. Thomas Joseph Larkin Jr., 89, of Clinton, passed away peacefully at his home Wednesday (Feb. 17, 2016).

Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Clinton, with the Rev. James Henning, celebrant. Burial will follow at Steenbergen Cemetery, Mount Pulaski, with military honors.

Memorials may be directed to the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Clinton, or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Thomas was born Aug. 26, 1926, in Philadelphia, Pa., to Thomas J. Larkin Sr. and Lily Dorsey Larkin. He is survived by his children, Dr. Thomas J. (Judy) Larkin III, Marion; Patricia (Larry) Arteman, Waynesville; Jean (Dennis) Buraglio, Clinton; Annette (Ghil) Reese, Jerseyville; Dr. John C. (Kim) Larkin Sr., Clinton; and Paul Larkin, Lowell, Ind.; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and brother, Joseph Larkin, Melbourne, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Lillian; and daughter-in-law, Sonya (Covey) Larkin.

He married Clara M. Purviance Durchholz in June 1945, in Lincoln. She preceded him in death on March 11, 2011.

After graduating from Northeast Catholic High School, Philadelphia, he attended Villanova University his senior year of high school and began studying engineering at the Drexel Institute of Technology prior to enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1944. After completing training at Naval Station Great Lakes and electronics training at NTC Gulf Port and RMS Treasure Island, San Francisco, he served as a RADAR/SONAR technician aboard the USS Twining (DD-540) in the Pacific and received the World War II Victory Medal. Upon graduation from Lincoln College and the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1952, Thomas began practicing in Mount Pulaski, later relocating to Clinton and retiring in 1995.

Thomas loved music and was an accomplished pianist from an early age. He had an unwavering dedication to his family and was a devout member, choir director and organ accompanist of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Clinton. He served in many community capacities, including the Clinton School Board and the county Board of Health, and helped establish the Tri-County Special Education Association. He generously supported many Catholic and Native American educational charities.

The family would like to thank those who took such wonderful care of Thomas, including Brit Williams, M.D., and the staff of Dr. John Warner Hospital; Jennifer Black, N.P., Prairie Heart Institute; and his caregivers, Sherri Diehl, Judy Land, Althea Anthony, Chris Buraglio, Byron Mullins and John Larkin Jr., and especially Terri Oakly, R.N.

Condolences may be made at www.calvertmemorial.com.