Larry Lucas

Larry Tod Lucas was born October 25th, 1947, in Los Alamos, New Mexico; the first child of Duane Lemar Lucas and Ann Arntson Lucas. Larry's life on earth ended on Saturday, June 13, 2009 after a battle with cancer. As a child, Larry learned the construction business from his father, a very successful contractor, and lived all over the four corners area as Duane's business moved from place to place. Two sisters, Karen Melfi, wife of Dan, and Debra Greiner, wife of Doug, followed at five year intervals. The Lucases finally settled in Bow Mar, Colorado, where Larry attended Bear Creek High School, graduating as valedictorian in 1965. He went on to the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he majored in economics and was a founding member of the CU chapter of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity along with his good friend Bruce Hyink. Bruce and his girlfriend Barbara Walker, introduced Larry to his future wife, Penny Susan Walker, Barbara's sister. Larry and Penny celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary in April, 2009. Larry earned his Bachelors degree in Economics before enlisting in the U.S. Army in the summer of 1969. Larry and Penny were married in Penny's home town of Walsh, Colorado, on April 18th, 1970. Upon finishing his military service, Larry and Penny returned to Boulder, where Larry completed his Masters in Economics, while Penny worked as an elementary school teacher. After student teaching at Aims Community College in Greeley, the couple moved to Douglas, Arizona, where Larry taught business courses at Cochise College. Matthew Tod Lucas was born May 6th, 1977, during Larry's last semester. Larry earned his MBA at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, before taking his family to San Diego, California. Larry's career in aerospace began at General Dynamics, Convair Division, in September 1978. Erin Kathleen Lucas rounded out their family June 27th, 1979. In December, 1979, the family moved to Littleton, Colorado, where Larry started work for Martin Marietta. August 1984, saw Larry moving his family to Fort Collins, then to Lafayette in 1985, while pursuing his career at Ball Aerospace in Boulder. During that time, Larry taught off and on for Arapaho Community College and Front Range Community College, Longmont Campus. Larry also volunteered with Matt's Cub Scout pack and Boy Scouts of America, and helped with Erin's Brownie and Girl Scout troops. In 1990 Larry accepted the position of Assistant Campus Dean of Instruction at the Alpine Campus of Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs. For the next several years Larry enjoyed watching his children perform in various sports, theatre and musical events. He continued to teach part time in Steamboat, then moved to Fort Collins in 2003 to pursue a full-time teaching career and be closer to Matt and his wife Megan Dennie, as well as his new grandchildren, Alexandra 2003, Caitlin 2007, and James born May 19th, 2009. He worked as a program director and business instructor at Front Range Community College until the end of the Spring 2009 Semester. Larry was an avid cyclist, participating in several difficult bicycling tours including the Ride the Rockies, and the Colorado Border-to-Border. In recent years he and Penny developed a love of recumbent tricycling. He loved music, and enjoyed performing in various ensembles, both with his trombone and his voice, including the Larimer Chorale, the Northern Colorado Concert Band, the Steamboat Springs Orchestra, the Columbine Chorale, and others. He loved the outdoors; hiking, camping, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing with family. Larry and Penny also enjoyed visiting Erin on the East and West Coasts and abroad. Larry was an active member of the congregation at Faith Evangelical Free Church; singing in the choir, and participating in Bible study and small group fellowship. Larry was baptized January 11th, 2009. Larry was preceded in death by his father in 2003. He is survived by his wife Penny, his mother Ann, his sisters Karen and Debra, his son Matt and daughter-in-law Megan, and his daughter Erin. He is also survived by his three grandchildren, Alex age 5, Caitlin age 2, and James Tod age 3 weeks, as well as many other devoted family and friends. Services will be held on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 at 10:30am at Faith Evangelical Free Church, at 3920 South Shields in Fort Collins. Pastor Mark Chase will officiate. A private interment will be held at Grandview Cemetery.