Lawrence Edward Bodkin,

Lawrence "Larry" Edward Bodkin, Sr., 87, passed away Wednesday, April 8, 2015. A native of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, he was raised in Flint, Michigan and then moved to Winter Haven in 1943, where he graduated from Winter Haven High School. Mr. Bodkin then enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1945. He was assigned to the 941st Petroleum Products Laboratory in Farge, Germany during World War II, honorably discharged in 1947.Larry was a physics major at Florida State University, where he also worked as a radio announcer at WTAL. He met and married his first wife, Ruby Pate Bodkin while at FSU. They then moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he continued his work in radio and television. He then became a Certified Gemologist and Appraiser for Underwood Jewelers until retirement. Throughout his life, he was a prolific inventor, having filed over 20 separate patents. A proud member of MENSA, he was also an accomplished writer.He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruby, and son-in-law, Charles Tillman Snead, III (Karen). Survivors include his wife, Leigh Valley Bodkin; two daughters, Karen Bodkin Snead of Dale City Virginia and Cinda Bodkin of St. Augustine, Florida; a son, Lawrence Edward Bodkin, Jr. (Jane) of Tallahassee, Florida; seven grandchildren (Molly, Till, Katie, Carson, Mark, Ander, and Ben) and one great grandson (Chaz).Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Sunday, April 12 (today) in the Chapel at the Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring (Community Hospice of Northeast Florida), 4266 Sunbeam Rd., with Fr. Tom Cody officiating. A graveside committal service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday at Lakeside Memorial Park in Winter Haven, Florida (2450 U.S. Highway 17 North). Arrangements by: Corey – Kerlin Funeral Home, 940 Cesery Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida.