Thursday ObitsCoyote |
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Master and Commander Posts: 1368 Location: NE Florida | Subject: Thursday Obits https://www.facebook.com/ussvi.eternalpatrol/ The above link goes to the USSVI (United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.) Facebook page where their members who have gone on “Eternal Patrol” are noted. I’ll keep my work here going, trying to get others who were not USSVI members. You’re encouraged to look there as well as here! Obviously, there’ll be some I miss and some I duplicate. BATES .. .. .. Joe Frank Bates, 86, A devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, Joe passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his children and wife. Joe was preceded in death by his first wife, Lorraine; his parents, Melvin and Hazel Bates; his brothers, Donald and Harold; and his sister, Marie. Joe grew up in Detroit. His parents divorced when he was seven. When he was seventeen, he went to live with his dad in Long Beach, California. One day, and not having any luck finding a job, he passed the Navy recruitment office. Unfortunately, without a parent's approval he wouldn't be able to enlist until he was 18. Joe convinced his dad that he would get his GED while in the Navy. After completing basic training in 1957 he was assigned to a submarine, The USS Sabalo, where he served as an electrician for the next six years. His nickname on board was "Snake" as his thin build allowed him to wiggle his way into tight spaces to perform his job. After leaving the Navy in 1963, Joe returned to Detroit, where he married his sweetheart, Lorraine Wright. They shared 43 years of marriage and built a life rooted in love and family. Joe got a job at Flannery Ford in Lincoln Park, Michigan as a salesman, which proved to be a wise decision. His dedication and tireless work ethic were hallmarks of Joe's industry sales success. Joe's drive and focus were not spent entirely on work. In 1967, they welcomed a baby boy, Craig; followed by Mark in 1968; Kevin in 1969; and Tina in 1972. He loved spending time with his family. The family had a cabin "up north" in Oscoda, Michigan on Cedar Lake. His brother Harold's cabin was right next door and sister Barbara's cabin was just down the road. He was very lucky that he and Lorraine had big families. Those sisters and brothers and nieces and nephews were always around. In 1982, the family moved to Torrance, California. Joe's dad was getting up there in age and needed help with his machine shop, 'Space Screw". After spending 16 years in California, Joe and Lorraine moved to Hayden, Idaho and relocated the business to Rathdrum, Idaho. In 2006, Lorraine passed away. They were married for 43 years. A couple years later, Joe met a very special and caring woman, Marsha Doerr, who would become his wife in 2009. Joe and Marsha lived part time in Hayden and traveled the country in their 5th wheel for ten years before permanently moving to The Villages, Florida. Even though they now lived on the other side of the country, they still made ample time for their kids and, more importantly, their grandkids. Joe lived a full and robust life that valued faith and family above all else. He always saw the good in people. He was generous with his time, friendship and guidance, and a DAD till the end. Joe is survived by his wife, Marsha; sister, Barbara; sons: Craig (Kristy), Mark, Kevin; daughter, Tina (Peter); and grandchildren: Tyler, Kacey, Justin, Nathan, Emily, Nick, Jacob, Summer, and Gloria. Joe has two stepdaughters and a stepson and several step grandchildren that mean the world to him. Happy trails to you Until we meet again Happy trails to you Keep smiling until then Who cares about the clouds when we're together Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather Happy trails to you 'til we meet again. CUNNINGHAM .. .. .. Paul Lester Cunningham, Jr., age 89, of Willis, Virginia, went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 15, 2025. Paul was born and raised on a farm in Jane Lew, West Virginia, with his three siblings, two brothers and a sister. It was here that he developed an unparalleled work ethic that he became known for all his life. Paul graduated from high school in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and immediately joined the United States Navy, where he served for four years on the submarine, the U.S.S Cutlass. It was during those four years that he became lifelong friends with a shipmate, Jim Granger, who eventually introduced Paul to his future wife. After being discharged from the Navy, Paul moved to New Jersey to be with and marry his sweetheart, Eleanor "Ellie" Fletcher, in August of 1959. After marrying Ellie and settling in New Jersey, Paul went on to study air conditioning and heating at Lincoln Technical Institute, and subsequently started his own business, C & D Cooling and Heating, which he ran successfully for 35 years. Paul and Ellie raised two daughters and a son in Gillette, New Jersey, and upon retiring from the cooling and heating business, they moved to Willis, Virginia, to be near family and return to his rural farming heritage. While Paul had many achievements throughout his time here on earth, the most important is that he gave his heart to the Lord at Calvary Bible Church in Readington, New Jersey, at the age of thirty-nine years old. Paul loved the Lord and served Him with the same work ethic and dedication that he was known for in all other facets of life. He went on numerous mission trips, both domestically and abroad, several times taking his grandchildren with him, demonstrating to them his legacy of loving and faithfully serving the Lord. He was a devoted member of Grace Baptist Church in Floyd, Virginia, after his retirement, and served as a deacon there for many years. Paul was also an avid and talented woodworker and used his gifts to make the pulpit, communion table and kitchen cabinets for his church. He was selfless in his service to others and would help anyone with any need, outworking men half his age up until very late in his life. He also loved to garden, hunt, fish, drive, and fellowship with his family. Paul demonstrated his love for others through sharing his time and in tremendous acts of service for the people around him. Paul is preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Fern Cunningham; and by his sister, Barbara Austin. He is survived by his two brothers, Jimmy and Phil Cunningham; his wife of 66 years, Eleanor; his three children, Kathy (Steve) Jones of Goshen, New York, Robin (John) Hairfield of Willis, and Glenn (Heather) Cunningham, of Louisville, Tennessee; as well as ten grandchildren, Jamie (Benjamin) Shelor, Emily (Gordon) Hairfield, Caleb (SueAnna) Hairfield, Anna (TJ) Coburn, Eli Hairfield, Leah (Benjamin) Potter, Tyler Jones, Jacob Jones, Augustus Cunningham, Woodrow Cunningham; and 14 great-grandchildren, all of whom he loved deeply and will miss him dearly. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Rebekah and Allie with Carilion Hospice who faithfully cared for Paul with kindness and humility to the end. WEST .. .. .. Edward Earl “Papa” West passed away on January 11th, 2026, in Clarksville, Tennessee, at the age of 91. Born on June 27th, 1934, Anderson County, Kentucky, Ed lived a life marked by service, craftsmanship, and a deep love for the outdoors and his family. A proud veteran of the United States Navy, Ed served with distinction as a submariner. Over the course of his 22-year military career, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander (LCDR), demonstrating unwavering dedication and leadership. His time in the Navy was a defining chapter in his life—one that instilled in him discipline, resilience, and a profound sense of duty to his country. Following his retirement from military service, Ed continued his career becoming Maintenance Manager at Consolidated Aluminum, then Physical Plant Director at Murray State University. He was a gifted woodworker, crafting furniture and keepsakes for his family. He also found great joy in nature—camping, hiking, and bicycling. At the age of 91, he had just replaced the tires on his bicycle, preparing for an annual trip to St George Island, Florida. Ed regularly attended and supported the First Christian Church in Clarksville, Tennessee. His faith was an enduring source of strength throughout his life and provided him with a strong sense of community and spiritual grounding. He was affectionately known as “Papa” to those closest to him—a name that speaks volumes about the warmth and love he shared with his family. He is survived by his sons Keith Sperry (Diane) and Eric West (Melissa), and daughter Andrea Ewald (Richard), brother Richard Sutherland (Sara), and many nieces and nephews. His legacy continues through five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter, and very special friends, the Cheatwood family. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Agnes Lucille West, siblings Pat, Anne, Stanley, Denise and Debbie, and one cherished great-grandson, Kingston Beckett Wilson. A man of quiet strength and enduring kindness, Ed touched many lives through both word and deed. His memory will live on not only in the hearts of those who knew him but also in the stories shared around campfires, the hum of bicycle wheels on country roads, and the smooth grain of hand-carved wood. May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him. FINNE .. .. .. Gunnar Finne, age 89, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. Gunnar was born on August 9, 1936, in Ytre Arne, a beautiful, picturesque village outside Bergen, Norway. He was the fourth-born child of Styrk and Astrid Finne. Born during the 1936 Olympic Games, Gunnar's childhood and formative years unfolded during the difficult era of occupied Norway. As a young man, Gunnar proudly served in the Norwegian Navy aboard a submarine-an experience that ultimately reflected his lifelong love of the sea. Intellectually curious from an early age, Gunnar earned his first degree in education in Bergen and taught at the local junior college before continuing his academic journey abroad. Driven by a profound and enduring love of learning, he attended Queen's College in Belfast, Ireland where he earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in organic chemistry. He later received a Master of Science in microbiology and a PhD in fisheries technology from the University of Washington. It was at the University of Washington where Gunnar met the love of his life, Mona Rizk, an art history student from Alexandria, Egypt. As international students, their early years together were filled with hiking and skiing in the Cascades mountains - pursuits that matched Gunnar's adventurous, playful spirit. They were married on December 1, 1973, in an intimate candlelight ceremony in Seattle, beginning a lifelong partnership that spanned 52 years, rooted in unwavering companionship, mutual respect, laughter, and love. Gunnar's academic career was both distinguished and deeply personal, marked by a strong commitment to those who he taught and mentored. After teaching at Clemson University, he was recruited by Texas A&M University, where he held a faculty position in the Department of Animal Science devoted to research while also teaching graduate students. He specialized in seafood technology and microbiology, nutrient analysis, and foodborne pathogens, and was the author of numerous research papers and technical articles. He also supervised the Texas A&M Experimentation Station in Galveston. An eloquent writer and respected scientist, Gunnar secured significant research funding for the University and, alongside trusted colleagues and friends, co-founded a private research laboratory devoted to applied microbiology and food sciences. Beloved by colleagues and his graduate students alike, Gunnar was admired not only for his keen intellect and unique expertise, but for the way he taught and mentored - always patient, deeply engaged, and genuinely enthusiastic. He humbly invested himself in the success of others and found deep joy in watching his students and mentees flourish, both academically and in life. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Gunnar was an extraordinary and deeply engaged father and grandfather who delighted in time spent with his children and grandchildren. Playful and full of laughter, he loved games of all kinds, especially chess and golf, often turning everyday moments into opportunities for fun and connection. He had a gift for humor and could always be counted on for a good laugh or a playful challenge. Gunnar loved nature and shared that love with his family - always eager for a backyard game of badminton or a cross-country skiing expedition. An accomplished saxophonist and flutist, he also passed along his passion for music to those he loved. An immense animal lover, wonderful with children, and very much a big kid at heart, Gunnar was gentle, humble, and warm, with a remarkable way of making everyone feel welcomed, valued, and at ease. Gunnar was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. His legacy endures in the family he loved, the values he instilled in them, the students he mentored, and the many lives he touched with his kindness, sense of humor, and generosity of spirt. He is survived by his wife, Mona Rizk-Finne; his children, Jan Richard Finne, and Giselle Finne Gafford; son-in-law David Gafford; and his grandchildren, Dean Rizk, Eirik Joseph, and Finn Edward Gafford, who were a constant source of pride and joy. | ||
