About Larry Bodkin, Sr.
Early Years
Career Years
Career Years
A native of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, he was raised in Flint, Michigan and then moved to Winter Haven in 1943, where he graduated from Winter Haven High School. Mr. Bodkin then enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1945. He was assigned to the 941st Petroleum Products Laboratory in Farge, Germany during World War II, honorably discharged in 1947.
Career Years
Career Years
Career Years
Larry was a physics major at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, where he also worked as a radio announcer at WTAL. He then moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he continued his work in radio and television. He then became a Certified Gemologist and Appraiser for Underwood Jewelers until retirement. Throughout his life, he w
Larry was a physics major at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, where he also worked as a radio announcer at WTAL. He then moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he continued his work in radio and television. He then became a Certified Gemologist and Appraiser for Underwood Jewelers until retirement. Throughout his life, he was a prolific inventor, having filed over 20 separate patents. A proud member of MENSA, he was also an accomplished writer.
Family Life
Career Years
Family Life
He met and married his first wife, Ruby Pate Bodkin, while at FSU in 1949, and were married for 59 years. Larry and Ruby had three children: two daughters, Karen Bodkin Snead (Charles Tillman Snead, III) of Dale City, Virginia and Cinda Bodkin of St. Augustine, Florida; and a son, Lawrence Edward Bodkin, Jr. (Jane DeWitt Bodkin) of Tallah
He met and married his first wife, Ruby Pate Bodkin, while at FSU in 1949, and were married for 59 years. Larry and Ruby had three children: two daughters, Karen Bodkin Snead (Charles Tillman Snead, III) of Dale City, Virginia and Cinda Bodkin of St. Augustine, Florida; and a son, Lawrence Edward Bodkin, Jr. (Jane DeWitt Bodkin) of Tallahassee, Florida. Mr. Bodkin had seven grandchildren: Mark, Ander, and Ben Bodkin, as well as Molly, Till, Katie and Carson Snead, and four great grandchildren (Banks Bodkin and Chaz, Parker and Olivia Snead).