Charles F Lucente

Charles “Charlie” Francis Lucente of Inverness died in Hospice care on May 4, 2014 at 89 years of age. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dagmar, three sons, Chuck (Teresa) of Pine Ridge, Randy (Linda) of Kennesaw, GA, and Larry (Sandy) of Bethlehem, PA, 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Robert of Walnutport, PA and a sister, Marie Scattene of Bethlehem, PA. He was predeceased by his father, Romeo and mother, Mary Alice (McShane) of Bethlehem, PA. He was born in Allentown, PA and grew up in Bethlehem, PA. After graduating high school in 1942, he joined the Army, trained as a gunner on the 105mm Howitzer at Camp Shelby, MS, with the 69th Infantry Division and deployed to England and France with that unit. The 69th Division entered combat as the Battle of the Bulge was ending, fought in the Hurtgen Forest and Harz Mountains in Germany, and was the first Allied unit to link up with the Russians on the Elbe River. After the war, he was employed at the Allen Laundry in Allentown, PA. He moved to Florida when he became manager of the Miami facility. Charlie’s retirement brought him to Inverness and he became invovled in the Elks Lodge, 2522 as a life member. For 13 years he served as an instructor and area coordinator for AARP driver safety classes in Citrus, Levy, Sumter and Dixie counties. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 9, 2014 at 10:00 AM at Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Inverness Elks Lodge No. 2522 officiating. Military honors will follow at Florida National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Hospice of Citrus County of the Nature Coast, P.O. Box 641270, Beverly Hills, FL 34464.