Friday ObitsCoyote |
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Master and Commander Posts: 1531 Location: NE Florida | Subject: Friday Obits https://www.facebook.com/ussvi.eternalpatrol/ https://ussvi.org/membership/eternal-patrol (USSVI members only) 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. First, from USSVI Groton, Shipmate Masi joined the U.S. Navy in 1953. He Qualified in Submarines in 1955 onboard the USS TORO (SS 422). He left the Navy with an Honorable Discharge in 1957 as an EM1(SS). Ralph joined USSVI Groton Base as a Life Member in 2001 and was inducted into the prestigious Holland Club in 2005. Then: MASI .. .. .. Ralph V. "Butch" Masi, age 92, a lifelong Franklin resident passed away on March 18, 2026. He was married for 51 years to the late Phyllis M. Mucciarone, who passed away in 2010. Born in Franklin on February 19, 1934, a son of Aniello and Mary (Verna) Masi, he was predeceased by his brothers Charles, Antonio, Joseph (Butch) Masi and sisters Elisabeth Masi and Evelyn Barker. He is survived by 5 children, Cheryl Houston, wife of the late Mark of North Attleboro, Stephen Masi and his wife Trish of Needham, Michele Masi of Franklin, Jeffrey Masi and his wife Lisa of Douglas, and Pamela Tucker of Medway. His ten grandchildren are Stephanie, Matthew, and Michael Houston; Craig Masi, Matthew Lanen, and Sarah Gore; Justin and Jacob Masi; and Anthony and Ashley Tucker. He also leaves many great-grandchildren and his dear friend Judith Murphy. He was raised and educated in Franklin, graduating with the FHS Class of 1951, where he played baseball and was Co-Captain of the football team. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving from 1953 to 1957, and volunteered for the Submarine service. He served aboard the USS Toro, SS-422 and attained the rank of Electricians Mate First Class, Qualified in Submarines, EM1(SS). He was a Lifetime Member of the United States Submarine Veterans Inc., Groton Base, and was a member of the Subvets Holland Club. He received a BSEE from Northeastern University in 1963 and was a Registered Professional Electrical Engineer in Massachusetts. Prior to his retirement he worked for The Foxboro Company for 29 years and for FM Global, Approvals Division, for 12 years. He served the Town of Franklin as a member of the IDC and as Secretary of the Council on Aging. He received the Stella Jeon Silver Spirit Award in 2014. He was also a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, Council #1847, and a member of the Charles River Tennis Club in Medway for over 46 years. He was an avid fan of the Red Sox and Patriots. Ralph treasured his family and enjoyed keeping in touch with relatives, friends, and classmates. WILSON .. .. .. We recently lost Donald Meybin Wilson at the age of 87. Don grew up in San Diego and on the beaches of La Jolla — site of many a handsome snapshot from his youth. He studied chemistry at Harvard on a Naval R.O.T.C. scholarship and spent his postgraduate years on the submarine USS Spinax. Although encouraged to continue his naval career on a newer nuclear submarine, he retired after four years as a lieutenant commander. After spending time at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and the University of Washington and competing in the La Jolla Rough Water Swim (1967), he transferred to the Ph.D. program at UC Berkeley. There he met the love of his life, Joan Cook Wilson (English graduate student), at the International House Cafe and incidentally built spectrometers in the Pimentel research lab and studied moon rocks at UC Space Sciences. He drove around Berkeley in a red Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce convertible. Don and Joan married in 1968, honeymooned in Big Sur, and soon settled in a small house in the Berkeley Hills with a large garden looking out to Tilden park. Don finished his Ph.D. thesis around the time his first son (and future scientist) David was born in 1974. Soon after his second son, Daniel, was born in 1978, he made sure the third bedroom addition to the house included a window that would allow a nighttime view of the stars. The house also included a living room with a vaulted ceiling accommodating grand Christmas trees — and Don’s habit of painstakingly engineering the ideal distribution of lights earned him the ironic nickname BARLA (“Bay Area Rapid Light Attacher”). Don led several Wilson family adventures, with highlights (or lowlights, depending on your point of view) including a campout at Point Reyes in 40 mph winds and a Yosemite backpacking trip that was undone by a massive black bear that browsed the contents of the family’s “bear bag” standing on his hind legs. More relaxing excursions included yearly stays at the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge and visits to Sans Souci beach in Hawaii. Don was into boating, particularly sailboat racing on the San Francisco Bay. He began crewing in the Knarr class in 1966, then began skippering his own Folkboat in 1968. He made his way up the ranks until he won his first Folkboat season championship in 1978, when the two series leaders decided to take each other out in the final race. He later fulfilled a long-held ambition by racing for years with an all-Wilson crew including David (Skipper-In-Waiting) and Daniel (Man-About-Foredeck). After Don’s career as an accomplished research chemist with a specialty in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, he continued to be a fixture at conferences for many years. He was also many things beyond our beloved “Spectroscopist at Sea.” He was a lawyer (passing the California and Hawaii bar exams as a hobby in his 50s), comedian (known for unrecoverable fits of giggling), fitness buff, and dog lover. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He has been and will continue to be loved dearly by those he has left behind. CAVANAGH .. .. .. Allen Roy Cavanagh of Bakersfield, California, passed away on August 24, 2026. He was 82. Born November 14, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, Allen moved with his parents, Roy and Alice Cavanagh, to Salinas, California, in the early 1950s. Growing up in Salinas, he enjoyed archery and collected baseball cards, comics, and stamps. During the Vietnam War, he enlisted in the United States Navy and was stationed in Lockerbie, Scotland, where he served as a mechanic on a submarine. He received an honorable discharge in 1967 and soon settled in Bakersfield, beginning work as a private investigator for Leon Faulkner. Allen married Debbie Howell in 1970 and their son Christopher was born in 1971. Debbie and Allen divorced shortly after that. In 1974, Allen married Susan Saunders and adopted her son, Brad. They built a house on the outskirts of the city, and lived a rural life, As a lifelong car enthusiast and master mechanic, Allen built his race cars from the ground up and competed in the mini-stock division at Bakersfield Speedway and Mesa Marin. He also raced in the International Motor Sports Association on California road courses, including Laguna Seca, Riverside, Sears Point, and Palm Springs. After leaving racing in the late 1990s, he became an avid poker player. He competed in the 2006 World Series of Poker and advanced halfway through the tournament ? an impressive achievement given the field and the demanding schedule. Allen worked for the United States Postal Service for 30 years and retired in 2009. LITTLE .. .. .. Andrew William Little, 71, of Wallingford, husband of Sherri (Loring) Little, passed away peacefully September 9, 2026, at Connecticut Hospice. Prior to his time at Hospice, Andy resided at The Village of Kensington Place where he received wonderful care and was loved by the staff. Andy served in the United States Navy during the Viet Nam era and devoted himself to submarine service in multiple capacities, as a submariner and later as a Program Manager for Submarine Rescue and Recovery through his role with the Department of the Navy. He was passionate about his service and proud of his veteran status. In addition to his work, Andy could often be found riding his Harley Davidson or enjoying outdoor sports. He was a member of the Tuscarora and Catoctin Gun Clubs (Frederick Co. MD) where he enjoyed competitive trap shooting up and down the East Coast. You would often find him with his loyal canine hunting dog, Harley, who preceded him in death. In addition to his wife, Sherri, he is survived by his daughters, Brandi Mullen, Lynn Little and Megan Ruest (Chris); his step-daughters, Megan Durbak (Mark), Erin Scally (Sam), and Lianne Adamczyk (Daniel); his sisters Sherri Ferraiolo, Jo-Ann Little and Kathy Manchester (Steve); his grandchildren Sophia and Zachary Mullen, Harold, Holden and Henley White, Luka and Simon Durbak, Grey Adamczyk, Rye and Zea Levine, and Cooper Ruest. He is also survived by nephews Michael Ferraiolo, Thomas and Daniel Manchester. THONE .. .. .. Gregory Alan Thone, 81, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2026. Greg was born on March 20, 1945, to Kenneth J. Thone and Audrey Elizabeth Thone of Florissant, Missouri. On July 12, 1967, Greg married the love of his life, Donna J. (Mesey) Thone. Together, they built a life centered around family, friendship, and countless memories. They shared 59 years of marriage and raised two sons, Christopher and Jason. Greg was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Donna, of Winfield, Missouri; his sons, Christopher Alan Thone and his wife, Laura, of O’Fallon, Missouri, and Jason Lee Thone of Winfield, Missouri; his grandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth Thone and her husband, Colin Riley, of Davenport, Iowa, and Brandon Alan Thone and his wife, Elissa, of Bonne Terre, Missouri; and his great-grandchildren, Marie Elizabeth Thone and Audrey Jane Thone. He is also survived by his siblings, Steve Thone of St. Louis, Missouri; Penny Schmittgens (Steve) of Arnold, Missouri; Patricia Kral (Mark) of DeSoto, Missouri; Kim Visintine (Steve) of Detroit, Michigan; and Lisa Thone-Gaunt-Clinton of Fenton, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Kenneth Thone. Greg graduated from McClure High School in 1963 and remained connected to his classmates over the years as a member of the McClure High School Reunion Committee. In 1966, Greg answered the call to serve his country, joining the United States Navy during the Vietnam era. He served for four years as a QM2 (Quartermaster Second Class), including service aboard a submarine. His military service was an important part of his life and reflected his dedication and sense of duty. Following his military service, Greg built a long career with Yellow Freight as a long-haul truck driver. He took great pride in his work and his commitment to safety, earning recognition from Yellow Freight for driving one million miles accident-free—an impressive accomplishment that reflected his professionalism and dedication. Greg was also a certified scuba diver and an avid outdoorsman. He loved being outdoors and especially enjoyed family float trips and camping adventures throughout Missouri and Colorado. Some of his favorite memories were made fishing with his sons and friends, enjoying the outdoors, and simply spending time with the people he loved. Greg will be remembered not only for the things he accomplished, but for the memories he created and the people whose lives he touched. He was a man who valued family, friendship, adventure, and service. His legacy will live on through his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, and the many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who were fortunate enough to know and love him. Greg leaves behind a lifetime of memories and a family who will carry his love and legacy forward. PATTERSON .. .. .. Jerry K. Patterson, 70, of Rock Island, Illinois, passed away Friday, September 4, 2026, at his home. A memorial service will be held at 12 p.m. Monday, September 14, 2026, at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 201 E. 4th Avenue, Milan, Illinois. Visitation will be held two hours prior from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Inurnment with military honors will be in the Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. Memorials may be made to the Edgewood Baptist Church Youth Program or to the family. Jerry was born on March 20, 1956, the son of David Lloyd and Elvera Clara (Johnson) Patterson at St. Anthony's Hospital in Rock Island, Illinois. He grew up in Reynolds, Illinois and Pleasant Valley, Iowa. He worked at John Deere before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. There he served in the Submarine Service where he enjoyed many challenging tours. Jerry was a life member of the U.S. Submarine Vets Inc., the DAV, and the Milan American Legion. During the last years of his life he enjoyed many hobbies including writing, reading, always learning, and watching his favorite sports teams. Jerry was very generous and always encouraged others. His strong faith in Jesus and witness were visible in how he lived. Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Cristina; his son, Shaun; his sister, Jean (Leonard) Chard; his brother, John (Tracy) Patterson; and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Christopher Patterson. CLARK .. .. .. ETCM (SS) David V Clark, USN (Ret), 89, passed away on Aug. 30, 2026, at home. Dave and Mary Lue were married for 68 years, blessed with two children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Dave and his sister Karen were born and grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Dave attended school, worked paper routes, and worked for his favorite mechanic Lloyd Noggle so he could buy that first special brand new car – a 1955 Chevy Bel Air. For a short time after high school he worked as a mechanic and in manufacturing of road- building sized equipment like rock crushers. Dave was introduced to his future wife, Mary Lue Wheeler, by his sister Karen in 1956 and they were married in 1958, between Navy schools and assignments. Their family life involved moving to many different parts of the US, but always would find special places to enjoy family picnics and other new experiences. His faith and church were important to him as well and he enjoyed participating in classes (being a great reader to the class!) and singing in the choir, in recent years as a member of First Baptist Hot Springs. In 1957, Dave was the first recruit in a five-state region to be accepted into the Navy's new nuclear submarine program — a distinction earned through discipline and hard work from the very start. He graduated with honor standing as first in his class as an Electronics Technician, setting the tone for a career built on diligence and a determination to master every skill put in front of him. Over the following years, Dave steadily advanced through the ranks, taking on greater responsibility with each new assignment and earning a reputation as someone others could depend on. His technical expertise and leadership were recognized with numerous commendations along the way, reflecting both his mastery of his craft and the trust placed in him by those he served alongside. That steady climb included assignments to multiple submarines, one as Chief of the Boat and culminated in his selection as Master Chief Petty Officer of the Command — one of the highest enlisted positions attainable and a role reserved for those who have proven themselves as both technical experts and trusted leaders of sailors. Dave retired to Reserve Status in 1976, later closing out three decades of dedicated active and reserve Navy service. That same work ethic carried seamlessly into civilian life, where Dave spent another 20 years as a Nuclear Operations Training Instructor in Zion, Illinois, passing his hard-earned expertise on to the next generation. Early retirement saw him become a periodic babysitter for his grandchildren, always exploring and finding things to build with them. In his more recent retirement years in Hot Springs, Arkansas, he became the neighborhood expert helper with everything from computer and electronics issues to dryer vent problems. Dave enjoyed working on cars and electrical/mechanical things and loved woodworking. He happily shared his knowledge of these with his children and grandchildren; and the fruits of these crafts with family and friends in the form of gifts of rocking horses, cradles, chairs, bookcases and many other special items. Another of his great joys was being in Colorado. Many summers would find him and Mary Lue photographing, Jeeping, and just enjoying the Rocky Mountains; one time travelling over the daunting Black Bear Pass. He is survived by his loving family: wife of 68 years Mary Lue; children Mike (Lana) Clark and Kimberli Clark; grandchildren Katherine (Jon) Cook and Geoffrey (Selena) Clark; great- grandchildren Wynnifred Cook and Walter Cook; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Irene Clark, sister, Karen Harford and son-in-law, Richard Harris. HOLDEN .. .. .. Michael Lynn Holden was born in La Junta, CO on October 30, 1949. He went to be in the care of his Savior and Lord Jesus Christ on September 4, 2026, one day after celebrating 33 years of marriage to his beloved wife, Irene. His parents, now deceased, were Charlotte Germaine Holden (Holden) and Wilber Lee Holden. When Michael was 6 months old, his parents moved from La Junta to Scott City KS. His parents lived on a turkey ranch. They moved to Lovelock, NV on the Circle L Ranch for 3 years and back to Scott City, KS, where he continued his education through his sophomore year in high school. While in high school, he played football, basketball, and competed in track. When his sophomore year was finished, his family moved to Hastings, NE, where he finished his junior and senior years. During the summer, he worked on combine crews across Kansas. When he returned home, his mom had enrolled him in Hastings College. After trying college for a semester, he decided to join the Navy in 1969, and headed to San Diego. There he went to Boot Camp and later to Groton, Connecticut where he went to submarine school. He spent the next 13 years qualifying on submarines which included: the USS Quillback SS424, USS FS Key SSBN657, USS James K Polk SSBN645, and USS Groton SSN694. His travels took him from San Diego, California to Charleston, South Carolina to Key West, Florida to Groton, Connecticut to Holy Lock, Scotland, and Rota Spain. He went by submarine through the Panama Canal to Bremerton, Washington. He completed missile firing tests in Cape Kennedy, Florida, and then back to Rota Spain, where more missile tests were conducted. He qualified as an electronics instructor and taught Iranians in San Diego, CA. He also received training on a new sonar system and became an instructor to teach sonar repair for 3 to 4 years. He received an honorable discharge after 13 years in the Navy, where he had served most of that time as a sonar tech. He was awarded three good conduct medals. After the Navy, his job was with McDonald Douglas Astronomies Corp. in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was an instructor to write a course for NATO about missiles. When an opportunity to work in field service came, he traveled to different Air Force bases, and government contractors to teach the operation and repair of missile test equipment. Later he got a job with General Dynamics out of San Diego, Ca to repair missile test equipment and from there, another field service job on SAC Air Force Base in Marquette Michigan. He spent over 4 years there and while at that base, he met President Bush and also used his artistic ability to paint a huge mural on 20 x 20‘ doors depicting the Earth with two B52 bombers and a new type missile next to an old type missile. Quite an undertaking! After Desert Storm was over, the contract with SAC Air Force Base ended so he decided to take a layoff in the Denver Colorado area where his two sons Shawn and Rick Holden lived. His first marriage had ended in divorce. He worked with a cabinet maker there and managed an apartment complex. After traveling to Montrose, he answered an ad for a stipple artist. Although he had no formal training, because of his self-taught talent, they hired him. He worked for Habitat T-shirt Company for over 6 1/2 years doing stipple wildlife artwork to be printed on T-shirts! That is also where he met the love of his life – Irene Leonard (Helmick) Holden. They were married in 1993 in Montrose at Valley Manor Care Center’s backyard, where Irene was working at that time in the activities department for the elderly. Even though they never had children together, Michael said that Irene was his “anchor” that kept him in Montrose where he resided the rest of his days. Surviving him, besides his wife, Irene, are his sons Shawn (Kim) Holden, Bentonville, AR; Rick Holden, Blue Hill, NE; and James Nicklin, Nassau, NH. Also, his stepchildren: Amy (Jim) Bollinger of Montrose; Laney Helmick, Paron, AR and deceased stepson Aaron Helmick; his siblings: Patricia (Steve) Consbruck, Dalhart, TX; Douglas (Linda) Holden, Volcano, CA; and Andrew Holden. He also has 11 grandchildren, 9 bonus grandchildren, plus 1 great grandchild and 10 bonus great grandchildren. He is also survived by 2 aunts, 3 cousins, and many nephews and nieces. Besides the ocean, Michael’s greatest joy was the mountains! He helped his wife run the family ranch on Fitzpatrick Mesa and also enjoyed plowing snow for CDOT over Cerro Summit and Blue Mesa in the winter months. He devoted a lot of his time helping Irene with hunting groups and managing cow operations that rented the ranch. In 2020, he had an accident while welding that caused him to break his neck. He was flown to St. Mary’s Hospital where he had surgery, but was paralyzed from the neck down. He kept telling everyone that “God told me he was going to heal me” and after months of rehab at St. Mary’s, he was able to walk out of the hospital with a walker! God miraculously did heal him, and he was able to enjoy 6 more years! He never regained his strength, but always gave God praise for every day! He truly loved the Lord with all his might! He also showed love and caring for family and friends, and had a grateful attitude for all his blessings. | ||
