LT GEORGE P. FARRIN, USN
Lucky Bag Yearbook
From the 1963 Lucky Bag:
GEORGE PATRICK FARRIN
Loss
George was lost when USS Scorpion (SSN 589) sank on May 22, 1968 in the Atlantic Ocean. He was the boat’s supply officer.
Other Information
From USS Scorpion (SSN-589) In Memoriam
George Patrick Farrin was born April 18, 1941, in Kalamazoo, Mich. He graduated from Lakeview High School in Battle Creek, Mich., and was accepted at the U.S. Naval Academy in July 1959. He graduated from the Academy with the class of 1963.
He received nuclear propulsion training in Vallejo, Calif., in June 1963, for 6 months, followed by additional training at Idaho Falls, Idaho, from December 1963 to July 1964. He was a student at the Naval Submarine School in Groton, Conn., from July 1964 to February 1965. His first duty in submarines was U.S.S. Sea Fox as assistant engineer officer. He also served Sea Fox as diving officer. Lieutenant Farrin reported to U.S.S. Scorpion in August 1966, and served as supply officer, public affairs officer, and educational services officer. While serving in Scorpion he qualified in submarines.
During his naval career he received the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star.
He is survived by his widow, the former Katherine C. Canady of Norfolk, Va., and his parents, Mr. Clifton E. Farrin and Mrs. Deanne W. Filarski of Battle Creek, Mich.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
As a senior in high school, George took a college advance placement course in English.
He spent his summer 1960 cruise aboard the destroyer USS Bigelow.
In September 1960, George and his father Skip paired with Jack and his dad Tom Swaim won the best-ball four-some tourney at the Battle Creek Country Club. In an usual sequence of events, Jack received a two-stroke handicap on the par-3 12th hole. He shot a deuce, so his final score for the hole was zero.
In the summer of 1961, George attended a Summer Aviation Indoctrination Course at Saufley Field Naval Auxiliary Air Station in Pensacola.
George married Katharine Jeffers Canady on August 26, 1967, in the Church of the Good Shepherd at Norfolk.
His high school reunion in July 1969 dedicated its booklet to George.
From the Battle Creek Enquirer on July 18, 1959:
Few teens are familiar with such terms as common stock, warrants, margin, or ‘watered’ stock. Yet this fund of economic knowledge is possessed by George Farrin, Lakeview High graduate. George has invested his savings of eight years since last fall. During the year, his interest in finance grew, and he kept his high school government class informed on the intricacies of economics.
George has worked at his father’s restaurant since he was in the fifth grade. His first venture last fall was the purchase of some General Motors Stock. As his interest and participation grew, he began receiving pamphlets from various brokerage firms. One of these was a corporation based in Canada. This particular firm was pushing a copper stock, Centurion Mines. George, following their recommendation, sold some of his GM, which had gone down several points, and bought some of the mining stock.
The stock tripled in value during the next six months. George then sold 100 shares to his mother, who wanted to keep it in the family. The $30 he made he invested in Husky Oil. Although he has lost money on the venture at the present time, George explained that the price of oil is down right now, and will go up in the future.
More and more teenagers are investing their earnings and or their savings. Reasons for this are similar to George: (1) making more money with their money, (2) learning about a basic part of the nation’s economic system, (3) the challenge and speculation involved. “Why do I invest” quipped George, “To uphold the Capitalist system!”
He had helpful advice to offer the prospective teen investor, however. The first thing to do if you are interested in investing is to see a qualified broker. Knowledge is one of the most helpful tools in protecting your money. Special “situation services,” which may cost anywhere from $25 to $150, prepare reports based on research of the market. For the large-scale investor, this is a worthwhile expenditure.
However, most young people are performing their financial operations on a small scare. For this reason, they are better off buying “growth” stock, stocks that will increase in value as the company expands. These stocks involve more risk than the maximum security stocks. The latter are the type that pay steady dividends, the former the type the buyer hopes to sell at a higher price than he bought (to make money.)
George’s market activities have ceased for the present time, as he left July 6 for Naval Academy at Annapolis. However upon his return, at Christmas vacation, he plans to resume his money-making interests.
George has a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
Photographs
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Francis Slattery ‘54, David Lloyd ‘56, Daniel Stephens ‘59, John Burke ‘63, Charles Lamberth ‘63, John Sweet ‘64, Laughton Smith ‘65, and Michael Odening ‘66 were also aboard USS Scorpion (SSN 589) when she was lost with all hands on May 22, 1968.
George is one of 29 members of the Class of 1963 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
