Karl Richard Laurin

Strifflers Family Funeral Homes

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | August 22, 2020

Karl Richard Laurin, age 81, of White Oak, died on August 10, 2020.

While sitting on his back porch watching the birds and listening to one of his favorite pieces of machinery, the radio, Karl Richard Laurin left this life. He was born in McKeesport on February 2, 1939 and is the son of the late Hilda Oberg Laurin and Carl O Laurin, a steelmaker in McKeesport. A grade school interest in radios was inspired by their colored wires and availability. This led to the rescue and repair of them in the neighborhood. A stint at Penn State preceded an Air Force enlistment as a missile systems analyst technician on an Atlas F launch crew. In 1965 it was back to the TV service bench until obtaining a faculty position at Greensburg Institute of Technology. His love for antique radios kept him active in the Pittsburgh Antique Radio Society (PARS) since 1996. His book of fictional radio short stories called THE 3 STRIKES CAMP STORIES is still available through the PARS web site at pittsburghantiqueradiosociety.org.

Karl Laurin was a history buff, artist, poet and writer. He loved the process of creating. He brought life back to old bikes, radios and people. With his magnanimous nature Karl donated generously to St. Jude, the White Oak Animal Shelter and anyone who asked. He always encouraged us to join the Sierra Club. He was known as the coffee man for The McKeesport Art Group, always a willing participant when help was needed.

With his Swedish good looks and blue eyes, he was often the subject of portraits which he sometimes wanted to embellish.

To quote a friend, “He was the soul of kindness and gentleness.” He was dearly loved by his neighbors and friends who will be celebrating his benevolent life. Please consider the above organizations if you want to donate in remembrance.

Join us on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at Strifflers of White Oak Cremation and Mortuary Services, 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131 (Sue Striffler Galaski, supervisor, 412-678-6177), to help memorialize Karl R Laurin. We will celebrate his life with memories we have of him from 12:30 pm until 1:30 pm. Burial will follow at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, 1158 Morgan Road, Bridgeville, PA 15017.

To share a memory or condolence, please visit strifflerfuneralhomes.com

Originally published August 22, 2020.

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