Lawrence Lane Tankersley

Lawrence Lane Tankersley, 79, passed away on May 24, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. Larry was born in Mercedes, Texas to Ross Robert “Bob” and Aileen Tankersley on July 6, 1946.

Larry graduated at the top of his class at Mercedes High School in 1964 and earned his bachelor’s degree on a scholarship from Rice University in Houston. He went on to complete his Master’s and Doctorate in Physics and Mathematics at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. Larry served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1972 to 1977.

In March of 1979, Larry accepted a position a civilian professor at the United States Naval Academy in their Physics Department and continued teaching young midshipmen for 37 years until his retirement in 2011. While living in Annapolis, Maryland, he also worked at the Naval Research Lab in Washington during this time in the optics division. After retirement, Larry volunteered his time to the University of Texas San Antonio Physics department tutoring, helping them develop a physics laboratory, and occasionally substitute teaching.

Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Aileen, and his brothers and their wives, Ross Robert (Judy) and Donald Patrick (Sally) Tankersley.

Never married, Larry is survived by his sister, Mary Elizabeth and her husband Donald Wright of Bandera, Texas. Three nephews also survive him: David Wright, Daniel Wright Robert Tankersley, and four nieces; Lauren Tankersley, Careese Tankersley Anderson, Melissa Patrizi and Christine Tankersley.

Memorial plans will be announced at a later date. Larry’s final resting spot will be near his brother, Patrick, at the Ebony Grove Cemetery in Mercedes, Texas.

The family wants to extend our sincere thanks to all his colleagues at the USNA and UTSA who reached out to share wonderful memories and to the residents and staff of Blue Skies of Texas West who were friends and caregivers during the time he lived in the community.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Bandera Funeral Chapel, Bandera, Texas.