McCrary, Robert D. Ens. 1st Div. Capt. Ret.

Surrounded by his loving family, Captain Robert Davison McCrary, U.S. Navy (Ret) passed away peacefully on November 15, 2011, due to complications following a heart operation. He was 88 years old. The son of a naval aviator, Bob was born in 1923 in Lakewood, NJ while his father was stationed at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station. As a Navy Junior, Bob moved often as his father was stationed at various locations throughout the country. Bob met the love of his life, Ann, at Coronado High School in the late ’30s when their fathers were both stationed at North Island Naval Air Station. Bob was in his first year as a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy when the U.S. entered World War II and his class (1945) was accelerated to graduate a year early in June of 1944. He married Ann after graduating and soon departed to join his first ship, USS Franklin (CV-13) in the South Pacific. Bob received the Silver Star Medal for heroic actions after the Franklin was severely damaged by Japanese dive bombers prior to the invasion of Okinawa. During his 30-year naval career, Bob served on ten ships and in five shore assignments, with three of his assignments as Commanding Officer. Many of his assignments were in San Diego. Bob retired from the Navy in Virginia Beach, VA and briefly worked for Raytheon as a government contractor. When he retired from business, he and Ann became more active in their local church and the Young Life Christian youth organization. As adult lives took their children farther from home, Bob and Ann decided to return to Coronado in 1998 to enjoy the weather, old friends, and to be close to part of their family. Bob continued his involvement with Young Life in Coronado and he and Ann became very active in St. Paul’s Methodist Church. Bob was also an active member of the Coronado Chapter of the Optimist’s Club. Bob was a patriot, a war hero, a military leader, a devoted husband, a wise and caring father, a good neighbor, and a devout Christian. He had a wry sense of humor, loved to do things with his grandchildren, and generously contributed his services and other resources to a variety of religious and community programs. He will be dearly missed by his family and a wide circle of friends. Bob was preceded in death by his father, CAPT Frank McCrary, U.S. Navy (Retired), his mother, Mary McCrary, and his brother, CDR Shannon McCrary, U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, Ann McCrary, his sister, Mary Ann Thomas (Ralph) of San Rafael, CA, his three children, CAPT M. Shannon McCrary, U.S. Navy (Retired) (Mary Pat) of Coronado, Mandy Kirk (Brad) of Jacksonville, FL, and Cyd Redfield of Coronado, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrance contributions be made in Bob’s name to the St Paul’s United Methodist Youth Fund.