Charlie Hyman Luce

Charlie Hyman Luce, 87, passed away on Tuesday, February 22, 2021, at his home in Lampasas, Texas.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, February 26, 2021, at Sneed Funeral Chapel.

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

Charlie was born on October 31, 1933, in Elgin, Oklahoma to Roy and Muriel (Risner) Luce.  He grew up in various towns in Oklahoma and graduated from Blaire High School in Blaire, Oklahoma 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, achieving the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer.  He served aboard the USS Forrestal and the USS Shangri-la and was part of specialized anti-submarine aircraft crews.

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

Charlie married Patricia in 1954 in San Diego, California and they were happily married for 66 years.  He knew the Lord Jesus Christ and served him in various congregations.  He enjoyed gardening, travel and was a dedicated baseball fan.  Charlie was preceded in death by his father, Roy Edward Luce; his mother, Muriel Hazel Luce; his brother, Roy Edward, Jr., and sister, Anita Williams.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Patricia of Lampasas, Texas; his son, Charlie Jr. (Niccole) of Los Angeles, California; his daughter, Vicki (Neill) Herndon of Lampasas, Texas; his grandson, Kevin Ray (Catherine) Herndon of Henrietta, Texas and his great-grandchildren, Brin and Charlie Herndon of Lampasas, Texas.