Lawrence Kauffman

Lawrence “Skip” Benjamin Kauffman, 82, entered into glory with God on August 18, 2020.  He loved his wife, Carol, with whom he was married for 32 years until her passing in 2000.  Skip is finally reunited with Carol in heaven.  He is survived by his three children:  David Kauffman (Jennifer) of Pensacola, FL, Erika Studer (Patrick) of Little Rock, AR and James Kauffman (Jillian) of Alexandria, VA; his sister, Susie Kauffman of Middletown, NY; and four grandchildren – all girls – Elizabeth (Zach) Walker, Kathryn Studer, Madeline Kauffman and Juliet Kauffman.

Skip grew up on a chicken farm in Middletown, NY, the oldest child of 3 with his sister, Susie, and brother Philip (deceased). Skip’s grandfather and middle-namesake, Benjamin, was Amish until he was shunned around 1900 for using a mechanical thresher.  Skip graduated from the University of Rochester on an NROTC scholarship.  He earned his Navy Wings of Gold and as a search-and-rescue aviator, flew helicopters during the Vietnam War with his squadron, HC-2 Fleet Angels.

Twice deployed to Vietnam, Skip piloted the first-ever instrument-only rescue of another crashed helicopter and helped to save its crew. His squadron had an outstanding search and rescue record, credited with 2,318 rescues.  Skip was what naval aviators refer to as “a good stick.”  Skip retired as a Lt. Commander and his final duty station was as a flight and ground school instructor at NAS Pensacola – Whiting Field.  Since naval aviation’s inception in 1911, over 180,000 naval aviators have earned their gold wings, but less than 360 reached the milestone of 1,000 or more shipboard (“trap”) landings.  Checking his logbooks in retirement, Skip realized that he had 975 traps in jets and helicopters, very close to this elite honor.

After retirement from the Navy, Skip started his second career as a high school teacher and obtained a Masters Degree in Computer Science from the University of West Florida.  He taught physics, chemistry, computers, and advanced mathematics to students at Catholic High School and East Hill Christian in Pensacola, FL and Mills High School in Little Rock, AR.  His teaching career spanned over 25 years.

Skip’s hobbies included woodworking and collecting television series – his favorites were Star Trek, Touched by an Angel, and JAG.  He loved to cook and hosted the family on Sunday nights for his famous steaks.  He always told great stories about his time as a student and flight instructor.  Most of all, Skip was a very compassionate, earnest, and caring husband, father, brother, and grandfather.  He will be dearly missed.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 3:30 p.m., Friday, August 28, 2020 at Christ the King Catholic church. Rosary will be before the mass, beginning at 3:00 p.m. To attend virtually please use the following link: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChristtheKingCatholicChurchLR

Arrangements by Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205. (501) 605-2262 . Sign Skip’s online guestbook at www.smithfamilycares.com