Category Archives: Fallen Shipmates

Larry Johnson worked in Power Plants and flew as a Flight Engineer on Crews 1 and 7.
Lawrence Johnson of Gainesville died Monday after a short illness. He was 66.
Mr. Johnson was born in Jamestown, N.Y., and moved to Gainesville 15 years ago from California.
He retired from the U.S. Navy as a chief petty officer.
He enjoyed doing carpentry work and supplied his services to Gainesville Country Day School. He was also an avid RV traveler and a member of Special Military Active Retired Travel Club.
He was preceded in death by a son, Ron Johnson.
Survivors include his wife, Judy Sheldon of Gainesville; daughters Cherrie Phillips of California and Stacey Green of Brooker; sons Jeff Johnson of Alabama, Mike Arrants of Waldo, Steve Arrants of Cedar Key and Jeff Arrants of Melrose; sisters Betsy Johnson, Karen Landry and Linda Meiner, all of California; a brother, John Johnson of California; and six grandchildren.
Arrangements by Archie Tanner Funeral Home in Starke.
JOHNSON, LAWRENCE R
ADJC US NAVY
DATE OF BIRTH: 01/02/1939
DATE OF DEATH: 10/31/2005
BURIED AT:
DEDAN CEMETERY
BROOKER, FL 32622

Simon Theriot Jr., 66, of Grasonville, died July 21, 2004 at his home. The cause of death was not available.
Born May 25, 1938, in Sulphur, La., Mr. Theriot was the son of the late Simon Theriot Sr. and Edith Monceaux Theriot. He grew up in Longville, La., graduating from Longville High School. He attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., and Louisiana Tech University before graduating from the Naval Academy in 1962.
A naval aviator, he served a tour in Vietnam with squadron VP-4, ASW, and was honorable discharged as a lieutenant.
In January 1968 he joined Trans World Airways, retiring as a captain in 1998. During his career he lived in Annapolis and was based out of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
In 1996 he moved to Oyster Cove in Grasonville, and enjoyed a home also in Key Largo, Fla. His interests included travel and boating. He was a member of St. Christopher’s Catholic Church, the Naval Academy Alumni Association and the Naval Academy Athletic Association.
Surviving are his wife, the former Rosalyn Seta, whom he married Dec. 29, 1962; two daughters, Melanie Moore of Midlothian, Va., and Yvonne Gazelle of Annapolis; one son, Simon Theriot III of Stevensville; one sister, Judy Thibodeaux of Lake Charles, La.; one brother, Vernon Theriot of Moselle, Miss.; and five grandchildren.
Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, 106 Shamrock Road, Chester. A funeral mass will be said at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church, 1861 Harbor Drive, Chester. Interment will be private in the United States Naval Academy Columbarium.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Queen Anne’s, 300 Del Rhodes Ave., Queenstown,MD 21658

BENNETT Jr., Owen Francis, 67, USN (Ret) died Thursday, March 18, 2004 in Jacksonville, FL where he has resided since 1977. Survivors include his wife, Leasie Bennett; 4 children, Julie Kozerski, Janice Newell, Carol Woodward, and Michael Bennett; 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Graveside funeral services will be held 2:00 PM, Wednesday, March 24, 2004 in Chapel Hills Memory Gardens, 850 St. Johns Bluff Rd. Arrangements by HARDAGE GIDDENS CHAPEL HILLS FUNERAL HOME.
Owen Bennett served in VP-4 as an AT2 flying on Crew 8.
Published in the Florida Times-Union on Mar. 23, 2004

Theodore A. Moran of Pomona passed away on August 5, 2003, at 72 years of age. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Geri Moran and three daughters, Teri Parkson, Cindy Baker and Vicki Moran, and four grandchildren, Kyle and Kelly Parkson, and Mitch and Kris Baker. Ted was born in Brentwood, CA, and has lived in Pomona for 40 years. He served in the Navy during the Korean War. Ted worked over 30 years for the Navy at the Naval Plant Representative Gage and Standards Division in Pomona. When he retired in 1986, he had served as the Director of the Gage and Standards Division for 13 years. He was also a past President of the Navy League. Ted led a happy and fulfilled life. He was a devoted man who loved his wife, daughters, and grandchildren. His friends also shared a special place in his life. A private memorial service was held at the Moran residence.

Published in Inland Valley Daily Bulletin on Aug. 10, 2003

Matthew Armitage was a LTJG and served as the Assistant Airframes Division Officer.
MATTHEW JAMES ARMITAGE RETIRED CORPORATE VICE-PRESIDENT FOR FEDERAL MOGUL CORP. age 70, a five-year resident of Jensen Beach, Florida, died August 1, 2003, at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, in Pontiac, Michigan. He was born July 9, 1933 in San Francisco, California, and was a former resident of Bingham Farms, Michigan. Mr. Armitage earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Metallurgic Engineering from Stanford University, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from University of Michigan, and a Law Degree from Wayne State University. Mr. Armitage was a Corporate Executive with Federal Mogul Corp., for 25 years, and a General Manager with North American Tiaho for seven years. He served in the U.S. Navy and in the U.S. Marines. He loved golf, music, history and mathematics, and was a member of the Stanford Club. He is survived by his wife, Phalle Louise (nee: Potter),sons, Michael Armitage (Sally) of Strongsville, Ohio, and Douglass Armitage of Rochester Hills, Michigan, daughter, Sarah Zawodny (Timothy) of Pleasant Ridge, Michigan, and grandchildren, Rebecca, Joshua, Rachel, & Joseph Zawodny, and Brady, Noelle, & Tayt Armitage. His son, Matthew, preceded him in death.

Charles E. Riley, CDR, U.S. Navy (Retired), of Norman, died Monday, July 14, 2003. Graveside services will be at Paoli, Oklahoma on Thursday July 17, 2003 at 10:00am. Visitation will be at Mayes Funeral Directors from 4:00pm until 8:00pm on Wednesday. He was born January 17, 1935 in Oklahoma City to Royce ‘Buster” and Rosalie Gray Riley. He graduated from Elk City High School in 1952 and earned his BS degree in Business from Oklahoma A&M, a BS in Health Care Services from Southern Illinois University and his masters in International Affairs from George Washington University. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1956 and received his Navy Wings in 1957. In 1960 he was united in marriage to Martha Jean Wood of Trenton, Tennessee in Carmel, California. They enjoyed duty assignments in Okinawa, Japan, Alaska and London. They retired to Norman in 1984 following twenty eight years of service. After retirement he worked for O.U. as a metrolift van driver, enjoying all of his ‘riders”. He enjoyed all O.U. athletics, particularly baseball. His affiliations included, Siloam #276 Masonic Lodge, The Retired Officers Association, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Sigma Phi Episilon. He is survived by his wife, Marty of the home in Norman; his daughter, Elizabeth of Plano, Texas; a sister Carolyn Weinmeister and a niece, Patty Weinmeister of Oklahoma City. He was preceded in death by his parents, Royce and Rosalie Riley, and by his son, Patrick Kevin Riley. The family has selected the baseball program at the University of Oklahoma as appropriate for contributions.
Published in The Oklahoman on July 17, 2003

Al Reeder flew as a member of Crew 2 in 1959 and Crew 9 in 1961. He was later an instructor on the P-3 avionics systems and then the Avionics Chief in VP-26.

Alvin G. “Al” Reeder, ATCS, U. S. Navy Ret., 64, of Pensacola died Thursday, April 2. 1998.

Senior Chief Reeder was a native of Festus, Mo., and had resided in Pensacola for the past 30 years. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict and Vietnam, having earned the Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal with Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign with Device, six awards of the Good Conduct Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Georgia; his mother, Doris Reeder; his father and stepmother, Glen and Pauline Reeder; and sister, Glenda Hunt.

Survivors include his wife, Avon Reeder; a son, Dave Reeder and his wife, Vickie; a daughter, Kathy Turner and her husband, Lee; five grandchildren, Heather, Shannon, Amber, Summer, and Jacob; two stepsons, Howard and John Griffin; two stepdaughters, Ruth Cobb and Brenda Watson; eight step-grandchildren; three sisters, Helen (Gene) McMahon, Faith (Bud) Thurman and Connie Fredericks; and a brother-in-law, Debbie Hunt.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, April 6, 1998, in the First Methodist Church with the Rev. Larry Mosley and Dr. Henry Roberts officiating.

Burial with military honors will be in Barrancas National Cemetery.

OAK LAWN FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Published in the Pensacola News Journal, Sunday 5 April 1998, page 4C.

Melvin flew with Crew 9 during 1959 – 1960 and with Crew 10 during in 1961

Navy Halts Search For Lost Fliers

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (UPI)

The Navy called off the search Friday for three fliers missing after the inflight collision of two aircraft and declared them lost at sea in the line of duty.

Missing were the pilot of an A3 Sky Warrior attack aircraft, LT Deighton A. Hunt, 28: his flight officer. ENS Lonnie C. Gibson, 27, both stationed at Oak Harbor, Wash.: and their crewman, PO1c Melvin F. Colby, 31, of nearby Coupeville.

The two fliers aboard the second aircraft involved, LT John K. Sutor and LTJG Peter C. Carrothers, both of Sanford, Fla., Naval Air Station, were rescued in good condition by a helicopter from the carrier USS Enterprise when their RA5c Vigilante reconnaissance plane went down.

The planes, both from the Enterprise, collided about 25 miles south of San Clemente Island.  The Navy said the collision apparently occurred about 11:40 p.m. Thursday, the time they disappeared from the carrier’s radarscope.

Published in The Argus (Fremont, CA) 9 Oct 1966

COLBY, MELVIN F. Jr., Oct 6, 1966

Husband of Katherine Colby of Oak Harbor, WA.  Father of Terri, Donald, Brenda and Melvin F. Colby III, all of Oak Harbor, WA.  Son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin F. Colby Sr. of Eureka, CA.  Brother of Roy B. Colby of Palo Alto, CA, James H. Colby of USN, Florida.  He was a Petty Officer First Class with the U.S. Navy, which he had been with for 16 years.  He attended Eureka schools.  A native of Honolulu, Hawaii.  Age 31.  Memorial services were held at Ault Field Chapel, U.S.Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, WA., Oct 11, 1966.

Published in the Humbolt Standard, Friday, Oct 21, 1966, Pg 13.

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