Donald Edwin Larker

Donald Edwin Larker - aka "Pepaw" (86) 01/31/1938-02/01/2024

Donald grew up in Massillon, Ohio, where he attended Central Catholic High School & graduated in 1956. He moved to San Francisco after graduation, where he met his only wife, Lavonne, and they had an only son, Doug. He moved to Eugene from San Francisco & opened an ice cream shop. After living in Eugene for 7 years, the Larkers moved to Amarillo, Texas, to be close to Lavonne's family. Donald & Lavonne opened a Karmelcorn shop in Westgate Mall when the mall opened, and later, Donald owned the Gift Shop at the Big Texan, which he owned for over a decade. After selling the gift shop, he opened A-Town Merchants Wholesale, which allowed him to travel his favorite highway, Route 66, selling souvenirs to businesses on The Mother Road. He loved Route 66 so much that he got a custom license plate, "LOVE 66," which he had for over 30 years. He was a HUGE Ohio football & baseball fan who supported the Cleveland Browns as well as the Ohio State Buckeyes and The Cleveland Indians. Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur & Hazel. He is survived by Sister Shirley Miller of Canton, Ohio, son Doug Larker of Amarillo, and grandsons Cory Larker of Amarillo and Andrew Larker of Norman, Oklahoma.