Lawrence Daniel Kucia went to his eternal rest in the arms of the angels on Sunday, March 27, 2022, after a brief illness.  He was born on January 20, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois.  Larry graduated from Gordon Tech High School in Chicago, Class of 1961.

After graduating from high school, he joined the United States Air Force where he served from 1961 to 1965, a decision that took him from Lima, Peru to West Berlin during the airlifts.  He was ultimately stationed at Langley AFB, Hampton, Virginia which was his last duty station.

After deciding not to re-enlist and earning an honorable discharge, he decided to make the Peninsula his home and considered himself a Virginian.  He always said the warmer weather was the deciding factor.

Larry worked as an electrician and attended Old Dominion University.  He ultimately became an electrical designer working for several local A&E firms.  His career took him to locations on the east coast all the way from Bermuda to Puerto Rico.
In 1980, he was asked if he would consider moving to Madrid, Spain to work on NATO bases.  He and his wife decided it was an opportunity they could not pass up for their children and themselves to travel and be introduced to other cultures. They stayed for four years and wished they had stayed longer.  

Upon their return to Virginia, Larry worked for several A&E firms in the Tidewater area.  At one time, working for Colonial Williamsburg Foundation where he received a write-up in an engineering design magazine for his work on lighting Duke of Gloucester Street.  He also received a commendation from the U.S. Navy for his design work on the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia.  Larry loved pointing out to family and friends all the locations from schools to hospitals and military bases which benefited from his design work.  He was proud of his accomplishments while remaining a humble man.  Larry was also gregarious and would strike up a conversation with strangers wherever he went.  

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Thaddeus Anton and Eleanor Rose Pierog Kucia, and his sister, Karyn Kucia.  He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Pamela Marie Lanford Kucia, daughter, Michelle Ann Twiss and husband, Jeffrey A. Twiss, son Matthew Lawrence Kucia, brother, Dennis R. Kucia and wife June, sister, Sandy Liniwiecz, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Larry loved his family dearly and fought bravely to stay with them.  He will be missed always by his family and friends and his legacy will live on.

Memorial donations in Larry’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society, Virginia Chapter, PO Box 4110 , Glen Allen, VA 23058 (https://www.cancer.org/).

A private service will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601.