A postal worker who was hit and killed in Sulphur Springs on Dec. 18 was remembered by family, friends and coworkers Friday morning. Paul Falica, 69, worked with the postal service here in Tampa Bay for decades. He became family to the Sulphur Spring community he served. "It's like we've known him. He's watched our kids grow up. We watched him grow up from a young man to an older man," one woman living in Sulphur Springs, Nicole Harris said. Falica was in the postal service for 40 years. Tyrone Jones remembers being 10 years old when he first met Falica. "He saw me grow up. He was always telling me, 'Stay out of trouble,'" Jones said. Falica was near the end of his career and preparing to retire. That was taken from him when he was hit and killed on Dec. 18 along E. River Cove and N. Mulberry Street in Sulphur Springs. Authorities say the driver took off and left Falica to die. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/paul-falica-mailman-memorial-procession-tampa/67-4b89c17b-76cb-44f1-8246-b3bff4a5f89d ►Subscribe: https://on.wtsp.com/youtube ►Website: https://www.wtsp.com/ ►Facebook: https://facebook.com/10TampaBay ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/10TampaBay