Passing of VP-4 Vet ATCS Charlie H. Luce USN (Ret) VP-4 1958 – 1962

AXCS Charlie H. Luce USN (Ret) VP-4 1958 – 1962

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

Interment, with military honors, will be held on June 5, 2021 at 11:00am at Hope Cemetery in Henrietta, Texas.

Charlie Luce flew with Crew 6 in 1959 – 1960. He flew with Crew 7 and worked in Avionics in 1961. He attended our 1998 reunion in Reno, NV and our 2009 reunion in Dallas, TX.

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. After retirement, they resided in Henrietta, Texas for many years. Charlie was an active member of First Baptist Church. 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.

—
Larry Hames
AVCM USN (Ret)
VP-4 1975 – 1978
VP-4 Veterans Assn Database Manager
database@vp4association.com