Mr. Luce

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  • Mr. Luce
    Mr. Luce
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Charlie Hyman Luce, 87, died on Feb. 22, 2021 at his home in Lampasas.

Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. Feb. 26 at Sneed Funeral Chapel.

Interment with military honors will be held at a later date at Hope Cemetery in Henrietta.

Charlie was born on Oct. 31, 1933 in Elgin, Oklahoma to Roy Edward Luce and Muriel Hazel (Risner) Luce. He grew up in various towns in Oklahoma and graduated from Blaire High School in 1951.

After high school, he joined the United States Navy in 1952 and served for 22 years. He served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and was stationed in the Philippines, Okinawa, Japan and at many bases along the West Coast. He retired in 1974, with the rank of senior chief petty officer. He served aboard the USS Forrestal and the USS Shangrila, and was part of specialized antisubmarine aircraft crews.

After the Navy, he used his electrical engineering skills at the University of California-San Diego as part of a team that developed groundbreaking technology used in the first artificial hearts. He went on to work at Cubic Corp., Helena Laboratories, Honeywell and finally at Fina Petroleum in Port Arthur, Texas.

Charlie married Patricia in 1954 in San Diego, California and they were married for 66 years.

He served the Lord Jesus Christ in various church congregations. He enjoyed gardening, travel and was a dedicated baseball fan.

Charlie was preceded in death by his brother, Roy Edward Luce Jr., and sister, Anita Williams.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia of Lampasas; son, Charlie Jr. (Niccole) of Los Angeles, California; daughter, Vicki (Neill) Herndon of Lampasas; grandson, Kevin Ray (Catherine) Herndon of Henrietta; and greatgrandchildren Brin and Charlie Herndon of Lampasas.