Welcome to the memorial page for
Lawrence Abe Peacock
May 26, 1948 ~ January 15, 2018 (age 69) 69 Years OldShare Tribute:
Lawrence Abe Peacock “Larry”, 69, passed away at his home in the early hours of January 15, 2018, surrounded by his family. He was born May 26, 1948 in Knoxville, Tennessee, to the late Abel and Ella Mae Snapp.
Larry attended Dixieland Elementary, Southwest Junior High School, Lakeland High School, and graduated from Winter Haven High School in 1966. He played collegiate football at Mississippi State, and ran track at Murray State. After college, Larry enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He climbed the ranks to Sergeant; earning the Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam. Larry served in many locations, including Germany, where he was one of the radio operators for the 1969 Apollo 11 Mission. Also during his time in Germany, Larry coached and played semi-pro football at the Ramstein Air Force base, a time he truly treasured. After serving 4 years in the Air Force, he completed his BS in Physical Education at Florida State in 1977. His Master’s work focused on Educational Leadership, at the University of South Florida.
Larry dedicated over 30 years of his life to Polk County Schools. He taught at Westwood Middle School, Winter Haven High School, Auburndale Junior High, Auburndale High School, Roosevelt Academy, and Ft. Meade Middle Senior High School. In 1998, Larry decided to run for Polk County School Board. He refused to take a dime for his campaign; he funded the race with his own money. The Lakeland Ledger aptly called him “brutally honest”. It was this integrity that led to his victory in the election. Larry’s agenda was to push for the benefit of the teachers and students. He wanted better pay for the teachers, and to rid the schools of the FCAT.
After reading A Purpose Driven Life, Larry knew his purpose in life was to be a coach. He could teach anyone to do anything; things they never dreamed possible. In 1984, Larry was the football coach at Ft. Meade where he led the Ft. Meade JV Miners to their first victory in two years. He was coaching golf at Winter Haven High School the year they beat Lee Jensen’s team at Lakeland High School.
Most may not have known Larry’s intense passion for writing and memorizing poetry. Some of his favorite author’s to recite were Christopher Marlowe, William Ernest Henley, Edgar Allen Poe, Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling, and Robert W. Service. Larry was a prolific writer, not only for prose, he also wrote for the Bartow Newspaper. In his later years, he began a project called The Peacock’s Tale; a book he would not complete. Those that knew Larry knew his captivating story telling abilities, and outstanding verbosity. A simple question or idea could catapult into an elaborate story. His son Jake would say, “Dad, when I ask you what time it is, you respond with how to build a clock.”
He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Betsy Dunlap Peacock and their children; son Jake Franklin Peacock, daughter Jennifer Elizabeth Peacock, her fiancé Christian Taylor Ryan; their grandchildren, Jake Franklin Peacock, Jr. and John Christopher Peacock; Larry’s daughter Valerie Jean Peacock; grandchildren Adam Lidren, Crystal Lidren, Jeremiah Lidren, and Mariah Lidren; great-granddaughter, Sapphire; sister Linda Strickland; favorite brother-in-law, Robert Dunlap; nieces, Laura Bennett and Lauren Dunlap; nephews Andy Bennett and Robert Dunlap.
A Celebration of Life will be at Lakeland Memorial Gardens on January 25, 2018, at 5 pm. In Lieu of flowers, the family would request donations be made in Larry’s honor to the Polk Education Foundation, 1530 Shumate Dr, Bartow, FL 33830. The fund will go to the Lawrence Peacock Scholarship, which supports Polk County Students.
www.lakelandfuneralhome.com
Larry attended Dixieland Elementary, Southwest Junior High School, Lakeland High School, and graduated from Winter Haven High School in 1966. He played collegiate football at Mississippi State, and ran track at Murray State. After college, Larry enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He climbed the ranks to Sergeant; earning the Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam. Larry served in many locations, including Germany, where he was one of the radio operators for the 1969 Apollo 11 Mission. Also during his time in Germany, Larry coached and played semi-pro football at the Ramstein Air Force base, a time he truly treasured. After serving 4 years in the Air Force, he completed his BS in Physical Education at Florida State in 1977. His Master’s work focused on Educational Leadership, at the University of South Florida.
Larry dedicated over 30 years of his life to Polk County Schools. He taught at Westwood Middle School, Winter Haven High School, Auburndale Junior High, Auburndale High School, Roosevelt Academy, and Ft. Meade Middle Senior High School. In 1998, Larry decided to run for Polk County School Board. He refused to take a dime for his campaign; he funded the race with his own money. The Lakeland Ledger aptly called him “brutally honest”. It was this integrity that led to his victory in the election. Larry’s agenda was to push for the benefit of the teachers and students. He wanted better pay for the teachers, and to rid the schools of the FCAT.
After reading A Purpose Driven Life, Larry knew his purpose in life was to be a coach. He could teach anyone to do anything; things they never dreamed possible. In 1984, Larry was the football coach at Ft. Meade where he led the Ft. Meade JV Miners to their first victory in two years. He was coaching golf at Winter Haven High School the year they beat Lee Jensen’s team at Lakeland High School.
Most may not have known Larry’s intense passion for writing and memorizing poetry. Some of his favorite author’s to recite were Christopher Marlowe, William Ernest Henley, Edgar Allen Poe, Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling, and Robert W. Service. Larry was a prolific writer, not only for prose, he also wrote for the Bartow Newspaper. In his later years, he began a project called The Peacock’s Tale; a book he would not complete. Those that knew Larry knew his captivating story telling abilities, and outstanding verbosity. A simple question or idea could catapult into an elaborate story. His son Jake would say, “Dad, when I ask you what time it is, you respond with how to build a clock.”
He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Betsy Dunlap Peacock and their children; son Jake Franklin Peacock, daughter Jennifer Elizabeth Peacock, her fiancé Christian Taylor Ryan; their grandchildren, Jake Franklin Peacock, Jr. and John Christopher Peacock; Larry’s daughter Valerie Jean Peacock; grandchildren Adam Lidren, Crystal Lidren, Jeremiah Lidren, and Mariah Lidren; great-granddaughter, Sapphire; sister Linda Strickland; favorite brother-in-law, Robert Dunlap; nieces, Laura Bennett and Lauren Dunlap; nephews Andy Bennett and Robert Dunlap.
A Celebration of Life will be at Lakeland Memorial Gardens on January 25, 2018, at 5 pm. In Lieu of flowers, the family would request donations be made in Larry’s honor to the Polk Education Foundation, 1530 Shumate Dr, Bartow, FL 33830. The fund will go to the Lawrence Peacock Scholarship, which supports Polk County Students.
www.lakelandfuneralhome.com
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