Larry Bruce Tucker born July 6th., 1943 of Interlachen Florida, formerly of Jacksonville Beach Florida, born and raised in Macon Georgia, died Friday night August 18, 2017 at the age of 74 in Ocala Florida where he was hospitalized for an extended illness.
Larry Bruce Tucker grew up in Macon Georgia and joined the United States Navy at 15 and rejoined when they discovered he enlisted under age. He retired after 22 years of active duty service and an additional 10 as a reservist.
He married his teen sweetheart, and they had 4 children, 8 great children, 6 great-grandchildren and one on the way.
He retired as a member of the Chief Petty Officer’s association with full honors spending most of his service as an air traffic controller. He served in the Korean War, Vietnam War and the Cuban Crisis. Larry was a Plank Owner, as he served on 3 newly commissioned Naval Vessels. While in the US Navy he held many second jobs to support his family, including fast food, electrician and painting.
After retirement he started a general contract business. Over the years his entrepreneurial spirit lead him to own car lots, painting and repair contracting, restaurant and dabbled in property management and selling of equipment.
As a lifetime member of the VFW, he was a volunteer commander and quartermaster at the Beaches VFW. He was also a lifetime member of the Fleet Reserve, American Legion and Moose Club.
He donated generously to his granddaughters Girl Scout troop supporting low income girls who could not afford to pay and his grandson’s baseball team. He made sure all of his kids and grandkids had reliable transportation. No one was ever hungry visiting him as Linda and Larry always had food. Larry was always there to help a neighbor in need and never met a stranger. He entertained the Jacksonville Beach area by providing elaborate, award winning Halloween and Christmas décor and acted as both zombie and Santa with much enthusiasm. He was a grill master with an original BBQ sauce and hosted some of best gatherings of family and friends.
Larry always dreamed of building his own house. He and his wife Linda designed their retirement home and Larry finished their beautiful home in 2007 on a piece of property they had a small family weekend getaway on in Interlachen Florida.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Beaches Chapel by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 1701 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250.
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