David F. Larson

david larson

David Fant Larson, of Danville KY, left this earth on Tuesday, January 21st, 2025, for the great eternal banquet table. A son of Kentucky, David was born on August 21, 1951, in Danville to the late Fritz and Jane Larson. He spent the majority of his life living in Lexington but most recently returned to his hometown, Danville, in 2017. Throughout his life, David managed to both fully embrace and share his love of all things epicurean, refined, and canine.

He graduated from Danville High School in 1969 and entered the University of Kentucky. As a chef, he set out for the big city of Washington DC in the early 1970s, with his parents thinking that he was happily ensconced at the University of Kentucky. He soon obtained a position working in the kitchen of the famed Watergate Hotel and never looked back. Upon the death of his father in 1979, he returned to Danville to briefly take over the management of the family business, Danville Automotive Supplies, Inc. before returning to his true passion of cooking for others. In 1982, David, with Mike Tuttle, opened the Pampered Chef, one of the most celebrated restaurants in Lexington at the time, which he owned for over 15 years. After closing the Pampered Chef he became the first-ever chef in residence at Woodford Reserve Distillery in Frankfort,  KY. David had full reign in the kitchen at Woodford and served luminaries such as Julia Child.  David had the opportunity to serve thousands of people and travel to the James Beard House in New York City in April 2000, providing one of the most decadent and delicious meals that attendees had ever enjoyed. After his time at the distillery, David became the vice president of operations at Shaker Village in Shaker Village KY. There he completely redeveloped and redesigned the food services and operations at Shaker Village bringing a whole new generation and population of visitors and Kentucky residents to delicious Kentucky cooking. He retired from Shaker Village in 2017.  Always the evangelist for wonderful cooking, great food, and service without pretension, David made countless thousands of people rounder and happier with the food that he prepared with love. His love for food was innate, stemming from his maternal grandmother, Virginia Fant, and a long line of magnificent cooks. Perhaps second only to food, David was an animal lover and throughout his life had some of the most quixotic dogs known to man. Most recently the beloved Bridie, Quentin, and James. In addition to food and dogs, David was a world traveler. David was as at home in London as he was in central Kentucky. Nonetheless, what mattered most to David were the people that he loved the most and feeding them well. Already he is missed but we are confident and positive that he is up there in heaven, having as his old friend, Ron Rose once said “passed over the chilly waters” and is reunited with his pups, his friends, and his grandmother already working on their next culinary delight.

David is survived by his sisters, Ginna (Al) Schneider and Karen Losson, his nephews, Andrew Schneider, Will Schneider, Thomas Schneider, and David Losson, numerous cousins, and scores of dear friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 7, 2025, at The Presbyterian Church of Danville. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Boyle County Public Library or the Danville-Boyle County Humane Society. 

Services

Memorial Service: February 7, 2025 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

The Presbyterian Church
500 W Main St
Danville, Kentucky 40422


www.presbydan.org

Receiving of Friends: February 7, 2025 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Room: Fellowship Hall

The Presbyterian Church
500 W Main St
Danville, Kentucky 40422


www.presbydan.org

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Charities

The family greatly appreciates donations made to these charities in David F. Larson 's name.

Danville - Boyle County Public Library

307 W Broadway

Danville,

Ky.

40422

Danville-Boyle Co. Humane Society

PO Box 487

Danville,

KY

40423

www.dbchs.org

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Guestbook

  1. David was always so nice to everyone. He was a great member of our Class of 1969. He will be missed by many for the talented, kind person he was.

  2. Gina and Karen,

    I am so sad to learn of the passing of David. I so enjoyed his friendship and outings before I left Kentucky for California. I would have loved to have eaten at his restaurant in Lexington. I know the food was spectacular. My best wishes to you both as you adjust to his absence.

    Beth Wood-Young

  3. Dearest David, we love you and you will always have a special place in our hearts . Thank you for your kind, loving soul. Thank you for always making us laugh with your stories and for sharing all of your knowledge. Most of all thank you for embracing us into your heart as newcomers to this wonderful state. We love you and will be forever grateful to have known you . You are our family . Love, Chris and Geoff and all of our furbabies that loved you so very much . We hope you will be surrounded by your loved ones,all of your furbabies and all the cooking things you need! We love you !

    • David was a close friend of mine in school. We had lots of fun together. He came over to my house numerous times to visit. I moved to Georgia for twenty-five years. When I came back home I saw him in Lexington the first week. The first thing he said to me was, “Are your mother’s floors still shining like glass.” (She polished her floors with Johnson’s wax) I thought what a funny thing to remember. Anyway,he will be MISSED! I will be praying for the family.

  4. An amazing chef and person, David supported me throughout my career, always supportive and ready to lend a hand if needed. Our sympathies go to his friends and family. We’ll miss him as will countless others.
    Ouita and Chris Michel and the entire team at Holly Hill Inn

  5. David had a great sense of humor and was such a sweet soul. My sympathy and prayers for his family.

  6. Sorry to see his candle go out. David is remembered as friend. I wish I could have run into him before he passed.

  7. David will be so missed by so many and
    for his wonderful food. I remember his
    mother said when the kids played
    Cowboys, he would play the camp cook.
    Will miss you my dear loving cousin.
    Jane


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