Arthur 'Bud' Larson | Sales engineer, 83

Arthur "Bud" Larson, 83, of Cheltenham, a retired sales engineer and custom framer, died of cancer Tuesday, Sept. 6, at Holy Redeemer Hospice in Meadowbrook.

Mr. Larson grew up on farms in Minnesota.

During the Korean War, he served in the Navy as a radio operator aboard the aircraft carrier Coral Sea in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

He met his future wife, Josephine Feldi, a Navy WAVE, at a dance in Norfolk, Va., where his ship was being overhauled. They married in 1954.

After his discharge, Mr. Larson attended the University of Minnesota for two years and then moved to Philadelphia, his wife's hometown.

He was a buyer for Sperry-Rand in Philadelphia and for West Chester Electronics. Then for 20 years, he was a sales engineer for Precision Marketing Group in Ardmore.

After retiring at 65, Mr. Larson, a skilled carpenter and furniture maker, was a framer for Victoriannie Antiques & Custom Framing in Cheltenham and later in Jenkintown. He was at work until three weeks ago, his daughter Kim Neumann said.

Mr. Larson learned to ski at 75, and enjoyed golfing, hiking, and canoeing even while battling bladder cancer, his daughter said.

"He was an amazing man and very inspiring to our support group. His energy was unbelievable," said Sandy Cochran, an ostomy specialist at Fox Chase Cancer Center.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Larson is survived by daughter Leslie and son Scott; and five grandchildren.

Services are private.

Donations may be made to Holy Redeemer Hospice, 12265 Townsend Rd., Suite 400, Philadelphia 19154.