Leo Joseph Luckey 89, World War II Veteran
Leo Joseph Luckey of Duxbury, Massachusetts died on November 22 after a brief illness at the age of 89. Born and educated in Gary, Indiana, the son of Joseph and Mary Luckey, Leo enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard as a radioman in 1942 during World War II and served on European and the Pacific fronts on the patrol frigate USS Key West and the attack transport USS Navarro.
After the War he married the late Rita Matzdorf, also from Gary, Indiana, and received an Associate degree in Business Administration from Gary College and then worked at the Weber Aircraft Company in Burbank, California planning the design of B-52 ejection seats. He was recalled to active duty Coast Guard service in 1952 during the Korean conflict. Following the Korean conflict Leo served on the Coast Guard Cutters Taney and Matagorda in the Pacific and the Duane and Yakatat in the Atlantic out of Boston and New Bedford.
Life in the Coast Guard with their four children required frequent moves that included Hawaii, Virginia, California until they finally settled in Duxbury in 1962 when Leo was assigned to a Coast Guard communication station in Marshfield. Rita later joined the staff of the Duxbury Clipper where she worked for many years. Leo and Rita were active members of the Duxbury American Legion particularly in the Legion’s theatrical productions that were such a big hit in the 1960s. Leo retired from the Coast Guard as a Radioman Chief Petty Officer in 1969 and later worked as a purchasing agent at Pixley-Richards in Plymouth and general helper at Camp Wing Boy’s and Girl’s Camp in Duxbury. He leaves a son, Frederick Luckey of North Easton, New York; three daughters, Nancy Mannett of Gray, Maine, Sandra Connolly of Boise, Idaho, and Patricia Moneyhun of Duxbury; and a sister Patricia Cash, of Crown Point, Indiana. Also survived by 7 grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 1st at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Plymouth. Viewing hours are 10:00 – 11:00 am. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am.
Donations in Mr. Luckey’s name may be made to the charity “Homes for Our Troops”, 6 Main St., Taunton, MA, 02780, Tel . 866-787-6677, www.homesforourtroops.org or to the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 384 Court St., Plymouth, MA 02360.