Robert Walter Swanson was born Oct. 31, 1919 to Swedish immigrant father John T. Swanson and his wife Ella (Anderson) in Mount Vernon, WA. He lived his entire life on a farm in the Nookachamps area, including time with his grandparents after his mother died when Bob was six. During his childhood he worked hard on the farm, producing crops and dairy cattle. His favorite childhood memories included fishing and swimming in Nookachamps creek and going to town to watch movies. He rode a horse and buggy to town to deliver lunch to his maternal grandfather, a craftsman who did impressive plastering at the Skagit County Courthouse and Lincoln Theatre. Bob started his education in a one-room school house and graduated from Mount Vernon Union High School in 1939. As a teen, he planted and sold strawberries and drove a Model T.

Bob joined the Navy in 1942, serving on the USS New York and the USS Franklin. On March 19, 1945, the Franklin was attacked for a second time. Trapped in a boiler room, Bob survived a horrific situation as bombs exploded and fire surrounded him and his shipmates. More than 800 men died that day and Bob was fortunate to be part of the crew that brought home the most heavily damaged ship to make it back to port on its own power. As with many members of the “greatest generation,” he never talked about his experience until later in life when he attended many ship reunions, where his family learned he was a hero!

He returned home after the war and worked first at Highland Pacific Dairy and then for many years at Darigold. Being a milk truck driver, Bob knew many people in Skagit County and was known by all as a very kind man.

While working at the downtown dairy, he met his first wife, Aletha (Kitty) Herzberg. They were married July 11, 1947, and raised six children. Bob kept the family together as a tight and loving group after Aletha died of cancer in 1969. During his years at Darigold, he continued to enjoy small farming, including cows, pigs and a raspberry patch that helped his children learn their parents’ values of faith, hard work, education and family fun.

In 1980, also while on his dairy route, he met Adrianna Hamm. His family doubled in size when he married Adrianna on Oct. 28, 1980.

In their retirement years, Bob and Adrianna enjoyed camping, growing and canning produce, traveling, holidays and family reunions, especially any time they could be with their grandchildren. Wonderful memories were created each spring camping with “Grandpa Bob” at Pearrygin Lake State Park. Bob raised dahlias and loved sharing them with family, friends and the couple’s church.

He was preceded in death by first wife Aletha, son Donald, brother John, and his USS Franklin shipmates.

He is survived by his wife Adrianna; his children, Marlene Hansen, Shirley Swanson (Sherry), Bob Swanson (Jennifer), Janis Swanson (Lester), Carol Donovan (Richard); daughter-in-law, Moira Frey; grandchildren, Stephen Hansen, Dane Swanson, Courtney Gonzales (Johnny), Timmy Swanson, Jessie Donovan, Alex Swanson, Gracie Donovan (Florin), Ethan Donovan; one great grandchild, Kitty Gonzales; special supporters Richard Sanchez and David Herzberg; and many nieces, nephews, stepchildren and their families, who are part of the blended family he shared with Adrianna.

The family thanks the caregivers at Skagit Valley Senior Village for their excellent care and compassion and their appreciation of Bob’s personality and sense of humor.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday June 2, at the First Christian Reform Church, 701 W. Blackburn Rd, Mount Vernon, WA.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society .

Published in Skagit Valley Herald Publishing Company from June 29 to June 30, 2014

WOODS, Benny 88, of Springfield, Ohio passed away peacefully in his residence on Friday June 20, 2014. He was born July 13, 1925 in Springfield, Ohio the son of Catherine Elizabeth Woods (Jones). Benny was raised primarily in Springfield, Ohio, he attend High School in New Jersey. Benny was an ordained Deacon at People’s Baptist Church for many years. He was employed with Clark County Engineers for 25 years before retiring as a Supervisor. Benny proudly served his Country in the United States Navy during World War II. He served aboard the U.S.S Franklin. He leaves to cherish his memory to his children Vera Daniels, Geraldine Stinnett, Jessie Davis, Theresa (Sullivan) Jones, Catherine Christian, Rochelle (Mike) Harris and Brock Woods 16 grandchildren 10 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his mother, wife Iola Woods. Service for Benny Woods will be held on Saturday June 28, 2014 at People’s Baptist Church 2327 E. High Street Springfield, Ohio. Visitation will be 9:00am until time of service which will be at 10:00am with Pastor Christopher Peterson officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Burial Park. Arrangements entrusted to Porter – Qualls – Dunlap Funeral Home.

Published in Springfield News-Sun on June 27, 2014

James Walter Lyons, 93-years-old, of Woodbridge, Virginia passed away on Saturday, June 14, 2014 at Sentara Hospital.

He served with United States Navy aboard the USS Franklin CV-13 during World War II from 1942-1946. In 1982, he retired from the Navy Yard, Washington DC as a Power Plant Foreman. After retirement, he worked as a school bus attendant for Prince William County Schools for 15 years, retiring in 2003.

Jim is a member of Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Woodbridge, Virginia, the Knights of Columbus, Council 5750, and American Legion Post 290, Stafford.

He was preceded in death by Rita, his wife of 50 years. He is survived by one brother, Kenneth Lyons of Woodbridge, VA, three daughters, Ruth Camerlin (Larry) from Reading, MA, Karen Williams (Ron) from Fredericksburg VA and Kathleen Lyons from Woodbridge, VA, one son, James Lyons from Colonial Beach, VA; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church, 13752 Mary’s Way, Woodbridge VA. Interment will follow at Quantico National Cemetery at 2 p.m.

The family will receive visitors from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at Miller Funeral Home, 3200 Golansky Boulevard, Woodbridge, Virginia 22192

Bainbridge, NY

Otto George Neidlinger, 85, of Bainbridge, passed away on Monday, October 10, 2011 at his home. Otto was born on November 19, 1925, son of the late Otto F. and Emma (Puffer) Neidlinger in Bainbridge. Otto served in the United States Navy during World War II until his honorable discharge in 1945. He ran his family farm in Bainbridge, retiring in 1987. He also drove school bus for the Bainbridge-Guilford School District for almost 30 years. He enjoyed being with friends, and had many, especially at Bob’s Diner and Maple Manor. The things he loved most in life were family, helping others, auctions and garage sales, and restoring antique farm equipment. He was the best father and the best human being, and will be dearly missed. The family wishes to thank all those in Bainbridge who watched over Otto and made him feel special.

Otto is survived by his seven children: Elaine (Tim) McCaslin, Emma (Tom) Safford, Jeffrey (Beth) Dockendorff, Esther (Kelly) Folsom, Kurt (Mickey) Neidlinger, Otto M. (Roxanne) Neidlinger and Julie (Kyle) Fuller; 18 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Dolores (Thomas) Elliott and a sister-in-law Paula Neidlinger.

Otto was predeceased by his first wife, Nancy, his second wife, Sheila and an infant son, Karl Andrew.

Friends are invited to call from 6:00-8:00pm on Friday, October 14, 2011 at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St. Sidney. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, October 15th at the First Presbyterian Church of Bainbridge, 3 Church St., with Rev. Diarmuid O’Hara, pastor officiating. Burial with military honors will be private and at the convenience of the family in Greenlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 314 Bainbridge, NY 13733 or to the Bainbridge Historical Society, 38 South Main St. Bainbridge. Condolences may be sent to the family online at http://www.landersfh.com.

Arrangements under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St. Sidney.

– See more at: http://landersfh.com/tribute/details/344/Otto_G__Neidlinger/obituary.html#tribute-start

Guetzloe, Bruce Alan 89, of Clearwater, FL, died August 14, 2013, at Morton Plant Hospital. He was born January 22, 1924, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of the late R.P. and Mildred Guetzloe. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Carden Guetzloe; three children: Douglas, of Orlando, FL; Laura, of St. Petersburg, FL; and Peter, of Clearwater, FL; a sister: Mary Buck and her husband John, of Minneapolis, MN; a daughter-in-law: Stacey Lewis Guetzloe and three grandchildren: Alexander, Jefferson, and Madison Guetzloe, of Orlando, FL; and a brother-in-law: Arthur Carden of Virginia Beach, VA. Bruce was a World War II Marine Corps pilot, who flew the Vought Corsair and was carrier-based off the USS Franklin “Big Ben”, with Squadron VMF 452, in the Pacific Theater. He also flew both Corsairs and jet aircraft during the Korean conflict. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Bruce received his Teacher’s Certification from University of South Florida and his Master’s Degree from University of Florida. He taught high school sciences for many years in the Pinellas County School District, retiring in 1985. Bruce was an avid boatman and pilot, enjoying his days aboard his motorsailer, The Teragram, and in piloting ultralight aircraft. National Cremation Society is in charge of arrangements. There will be no local services. He will be inurned, with full military honors, later in the Fall, at Arlington National Cemetery. The family has requested that no flowers be sent. Donations may be made in Bruce’s name to Personal Enrichment Through Mental Health Services at PEMHS, 11254 58th St North, Pinellas Park, FL 33782.
Internment at Arlington National Cemetery on April 22, 2014 at 0100 hours.

Father Joseph O’Callahan, performs last rites for Robert Blanchard March, 19, 1945 on the fiery deck of the USS Franklin. Robert, overcome by smoke inhalation would live to 90 years old.

WWII Navy Veteran, Purple Heart recipient, Robert Charles Blanchard has gone home to be with the Lord on April 11, 2014.  He was born December 1, 1923 in Yonkers, NY, and lived in Ocean County for 20 years.  Robert is survived by the love of his life of 72 years, Violetta Elkins Blanchard; his children Violetta Kelly, Barbara and Larry Mason, Patricia Dangler, Robert and Gail Blanchard, Donna and Larry Gliddon, Tom and Karen Blanchard, Marion and Fred Humphries, Bill Blanchard, and Michaelle and John Gaul; seventeen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren; and two brothers, William Blanchard and James Blanchard.  Viewing at Maxwell Funeral Home, Manahawkin, NJ on Monday April 14, from 6 pm until 9 pm.  Services will be Tuesday April 15 at St Mary’s in Barnegat NJ at 10am.

http://www.app.com/article/20140411/NJNEWS34/304110118/Shore-area-figure-in-iconic-WWII-photo-dies-at-90

Robert S. Crandall ScotiaIt is with sad regret that the family of Robert S. Crandall announces his death at age 90 on Monday, December 2nd at his home in Scotia, NY. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joan Marshall Crandall and their children, R. Scott Crandall, MD of Bedford, NH and Cynthia A. McOsker of South Portland, ME. He is also survived by his brother and wife, Clif and Linda Crandall of Ashville, NC. Bob was predeceased recently by his sister, Betty Fowler, with whom he shared a lifelong special bond. Born August 5, 1923 in Glens Falls Hospital, he was the son of the late Beatrice S. and James N. Crandall of Fort Ann, NY. Bob spent his early childhood living with his extended family on a 750 acre dairy farm in Fort Ann where at times they milked more than 100 cows morning and night. Bob graduated from Fort Ann Central High School in 1941 and lettered for the Cardinals in both baseball and basketball before leaving his agrarian roots and enlisting in the Navy on November 19, 1942. His participation in sports required completion of his daily chores before school and at night after practice or games. After basic training at Sampson Naval Training Center, he trained as a radioman in Bedford Springs, PA and was assigned to the aircraft carrier the USS Franklin, CV-13. He was part of the original crew. At this time, the ship’s company and the air group together composed the most complex combat team in the world. While serving in the Asia-Pacific War, he was involved in many battles with the Japanese Kamikaze divebombers and torpedo planes and witnessed firsthand the ravages of death and suffering during battles in the Bonin and Mariana Islands, Guam and Rota Island, Palau, Iwo Jima, Leyete Island, Manila Bay, Saipan, Eniwetok, Chichi Jima and on the carrier deck during bombing raids to within 100 miles of the coast of Japan. He was proud of the four stars on the Pacific Ribbon he wore as radioman 2nd class indicating his involvement in four major battles in the Pacific Theater. He completed his service to his country on the heavy cruiser, the USS Bremerton, at the war’s end sweeping for bombs in the Yellow Sea. He was honorably discharged February 1, 1946. Bob served under two presidents, (Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman) and was proud of his military service to America and advancing the universal hope of freedom and liberty for all. He worked diligently during the final years of his life to chronicle his war experiences in a personal memoir entitled, Big Ben the Flat Top: The Story of the USS Franklin. After his Navy duty, he attended the Agricultural and Technical Institute in Canton, NY for one year prior to transferring to Michigan State University where he graduated in June 1951 with a bachelor of science degree in science and agriculture. He married his college sweetheart, Joan Louise Marshall, on July 8, 1951. Joan coauthored his life and remained his best friend and confidant until his death. She provided a lifetime of unconditional love and most recently, extraordinary support and remarkable caregiving during the last two years of his life as he bravely confronted Parkinson’s Disease, depression and the myriad challenges of chronic disease and aging. After graduation from college, both Bob and Joan entered the classroom as teachers in Manchester, Michigan. Bob realized that a career in teaching science and agriculture was not for him. After a short stint in sales and advertising with the Yellow Pages, he joined the State Farm Insurance Company as an agent in Johnstown, NY until he relocated with Joan and their twins to Niagara Falls, NY in 1957 to become an agency manger with the company. He loved his position managing 18 agents in Western New York and created lifelong relationships with both his agents as well as their families. He completed his final decade with the company as an agent on Hamburg Street in Schenectady, NY, with Joan serving as his office manager. He served SFI as both an agent and manager for 42 years. After retiring from the insurance industry and seeking a hobby, he enrolled in art classes. He seemed to have an aptitude for this and worked mostly with acrylics and oil. In addition to painting on a traditional canvas, he loved to be creative and experimented with art on shirts and socks. He loved his jungle room at home filled with wall mounted displays of animals painted on palm fronds. His interest in aviation started during the war and he earned his pilot’s license flying extensively in the New England states and Florida. He logged hundreds of hours volunteering on the Restoration Crew at the Empire State Aerosciences Museum. He loved the warm weather and wintering in Cocoa Beach, Florida for many years where he and Joan loved the beach, dancing at the Port in Cape Canaveral, as well as entertaining family and friends. He was a lifelong Spartan and remained an avid Big Ten and Michigan State University supporter until his death. He was a lifelong active and engaged member of Riverside Presbyterian Church in Niagara Falls, NY, as well as Union Presbyterian Church in Schenectady, NY, where he served in leadership roles and volunteered extensively. He loved to serve those in need through church programs and mission activities. He also volunteered at the Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital, Proctors Theater and Habitat for Humanity. Bob loved gardening and landscaping on his property (especially working on his John Deere tractor), and maintained a small vegetable garden until his death. During his life, he also enjoyed boating, fishing and waterskiing with his family on the Niagara River from his Cayuga Island residence in Niagara Falls and later, the Mohawk River. Bob lived his life remembering that it is nice to be important, but more important to be nice and never asked anyone to do anything that he would not do, or had not already done himself. With faith as the foundation of his life, his behaviors and actions were characterized and framed by kindness, service to others and most importantly, love and devotion to his wife and their marriage. Care and concern for family, friends and community was always a priority. In addition to his two children, Scott and Cynthia and their spouses, (Judith T. Crandall of Bedford, NH and Thomas McOsker of South Portland, ME), he is survived by five grandchildren, Thomas McOsker of New York, NY, Ashley McOsker Picoraro (Jeff) of South Portland, ME, Bryce McOsker of Boston, MA, Lauren Crandall of Castleton, VT and Kevin Crandall of Henniker, NH. Calling hours will be held at Jones Funeral Home, 1503 Union Street (at McClellan St.), Schenectady, NY between 5 and 7 p.m. on Friday, December 13, 2013. A celebration of life memorial service will be held at the First Reformed Church of Schenectady, 8 N Church Street, Schenectady, NY on Saturday, December 14 at 2 p.m. with light refreshments to follow the service. Burial with military honors will be held in the spring in Moss Street Cemetery, Hudson Falls, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting consideration of a donation to the Wounded Warrrior Project in memory of all those who have served their country or the Thomas Corners Fire Department, 5 Airport Road, Scotia, NY 12302. To leave a special message for Robert’s family, please visit http://www.jonesfh.net.
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Published in The Daily Gazette Co. on Dec. 6, 2013
– See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailygazette/obituary.aspx?n=robert-s-crandall&pid=168361194&fhid=8150&eid=sp_ommatch#sthash.YHH4Dc4S.dpuf