Lester Belmont Tucker died on June 15, 2014 at Heritage Woods in Winston-Salem, N.C.

A longtime resident of Oak Harbor, Wash., he relocated to Winston-Salem in December 2010. He was born on Feb. 22, 1921 to Thelma E. Young and Joseph B. Tucker in El Paso, Texas.

After high school graduation, he spent a short period of time in the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC.

On Nov. 1, 1939, Tucker enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

A veteran of WWII and Korea, Tucker retired from the Navy on Feb. 1, 1967 at the Nuclear Weapons Training Center in San Diego as a Commissioned Warrant Officer-4. He served aboard the USS Memphis CL-13 from 1940-1941.

Tucker was transferred to the battleship USS North Carolina BB-55 in the spring of 1941 and saw combat action in the South Pacific in 1942.

Tucker’s decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with three Air Medals and the Combat Action Ribbon. He was the author of “The History of the Chief Petty Officer Grade,” the oldest “Grey Night” (VP-46) and other Navy rating articles.

The NAS Whidbey Island, Wash., “Chief Petty Officers Outstanding Leadership Award” is presented in his honor yearly.

He is survived by his sister, Gladys Myers, of Sunset Beach, Calif.; three daughters, Juanita A. Tucker, of Winston-Salem, N.C., Jeannette G. Arienti, of Lemon Grove, Calif., and Lavone A. Tucker of Durham, N.C.; two grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Salisbury National Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com