Larry Lea

Larry McKinely Lea of Old Bridge, New Jersey, passed away on Friday, May
23, 2025 at the age of 78. Born Sunday, June 30, 1946 in Danville, Virginia,
Larry was the son of Edward and Lorraine Lea. He was the youngest of four
children.
Larry grew up in Danville and graduated from John M. Langston High School.
He moved to Washington D.C. but would eventually settle in New Jersey a
year later. Larry attended Lincoln Tech to learn the automotive trade. He
would meet the love of his life, Phyllis, and the couple married on July
11,1970. They started their family in Newark, N.J. but eventually settled in
Roselle, where they raised their two sons: Larry Lorell Lea and Corey Joseph
Jermaine Lea. They would move to Rahway for a short time, but after Phyllis's
passing in 2007, Larry moved to Old Bridge to be closer to his sons.
Larry worked for the United States Postal Service for 35 years as a clerk in
Kearny, New Jersey. He was very artistic and motivated. He designed an
invention that was awarded a U.S. patent. Larry learned how to paint
landscapes by watching Bob Ross on television and became so good that he
was able to sell much of his artwork for 25 years. Larry was always very
active, taking good care of his physical health throughout his life. While he
was well, he would often swim several laps during his workouts and go for
long walks around the neighborhood. He loved basketball and was a NY
Knicks fan. He also enjoyed watching Westerns and playing chess, and his
favorite drink was apple cider.
Larry was a loving and caring man who will be deeply missed by all those that
knew him. He is survived by his two sons, Larry Lorell Lea and Corey Joseph
Jermaine Lea, one daughter-in-law, Susan Lea, two grandchildren, Rachel
Lorell Lea and Jordan Joshua Lea, one sister, Carolyn Lea Benjamin
(Richmond, VA), sister-in-law Jeanette Caldwell Wade (New Bern, NC),
Geneva Lea (Chase City, VA), Noreen Whitehead White and husband Donnell
White (Fayetteville, NC), Delores Evans Whitehead (Roselle, NJ), Sallie Mae
Fairley Whitehead (Oxford, NC), brother-in laws Daniel and Morell Whitehead
(Fayetteville, NC), and his close friend Joe Obley (Bloomfield, NJ), along with
a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and coworkers.
He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Phyllis Whitehead Lea, brothers William
Henry Lea and Edward Anderson Lea, and parents Edward and Lorraine Lea.
A Funeral service will be at 1:30 PM on Monday at GRACELAND MEMORIAL PARK located at 1900 Galloping Hill Road Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033. Interment will be in GRACELAND MEMORIAL PARK, Kenilworth, NJ.
The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM on Monday, June 2, 2025, at Michael Hegarty & John Vincent Scalia Home For Funerals and Cremation Service, 3377 US Highway 9, Old Bridge, New Jersey.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.HegartyScaliaFuneralHome.com