Friday ObitsCoyote |
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Master and Commander Posts: 1547 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. SCHROPPE .. .. .. Kenneth Edward Schroppe (November 12, 1964 – August 14, 2026) It is with aching hearts that we announce the passing of Kenneth Edward "Ken" Schroppe of Wall, NJ, on August 14, 2026, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ, with Leslie Nolan, his beloved wife of 18 years; his adored son, Roshawn; and other loving family members by his side. Ken was born November 12, 1964, and lived in Hamilton, NJ, to Daniel "Dan" Schroppe and Margaret "Peggy" Jas. After graduating in 1983 from Hopewell Valley Central High School, Pennington, NJ, Ken joined the Navy, stationed in Norfolk, VA, and soon found his calling under the sea: He served on the nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine USS Lapon SSN 661 from May 1985 to March 1990 as a Sonar Technician Supervisor, earning his "Silver Dolphins" insignia-a badge of deep honor marking a sailor as a fully qualified member of the U.S. Navy Submarine Force. During his tenure, he achieved a rare milestone for a submariner, making way to the North Pole on two separate missions. Ken also completed coursework at The George Washington University when underway for the US Navy. His Naval career and his later work life offered Ken opportunities to travel around the United States and all over the world-and wherever he went, fun and adventure followed, as his crewmates attest. For nearly 25 years, Ken was the Senior Facility and Systems Maintenance Manager at FedEx Ground, and more recently at Mercer Glass Fab. "Once he met you, you were like family," said one of his coworkers. True to his playful and generous spirit, Ken would give you the shirt off his back-sometimes literally, as recalled by a soon-to-be friend who admired a FedEx top Ken was wearing, only to have it tossed to him: "It's yours!" A member of the Knights of Columbus, he also never forgot about his Navy buddies, often joining in on reunions of the USS Lapon crew, and advocating for support of military veterans. Once permanently topside, Ken still found solace in the ocean, beaches and boating, and his photos of a sunrise or sunset over the water (or behind his treasured Tesla) are epic. But the pride and joy of his life was Roshawn, who arrived in the family as a toddler in 2013. Ken and "Ro" created new adventures, including "camping" in the Tesla on their holiday road trips to visit "Grandma dear" Thomasina in Florida. Ken also found another willing companion in his new fur baby, Macchiato, playing fetch or catching a sunrise on the beach together as Ken recovered from a stroke last October. In addition to Leslie and Roshawn, Ken leaves behind his mother, Peggy, and her husband, Leonard "Leo" Jas of Hamilton, NJ; his father, Dan Schroppe, and his wife, Martha Renya Schroppe, of South Carolina; his stepmother Sandra "Sandy" Kenney of Virginia; and his mother-in-law Thomasina DeLauro Nolan of Hoboken, NJ, and Delray Beach, FL. He will always be the cherished big brother to his sister, Sheryl "Sheri" Schroppe Ralph, and her husband, John, of Hamilton, NJ; his brother, Roger Schroppe, and his wife, Crystal, of Lexington, SC; and his half-sister, Kerry Ferguson, and her fiancé, Chris Baines of Virginia. He is also survived by his stepsisters Tara (Jas) Covert, and her husband, Dustin, of Pennsylvania; and Amy (Jas) Meltzer and her husband, Mitchell, of Hamilton. Ken will be remembered as a doting "goofball" uncle to his nieces and nephews: Jessie Ralph and Kinsley Devlin; Makenzie Drake and Haylie Schroppe; Piper Ferguson; Hunter Covert; and Jennie and Billy Meltzer. DUNCAN .. .. .. George Bernard Dungan, III, age 64, of Montross, Virginia, passed away at home on Sunday, July 5, 2026. Born on May 19, 1962, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, George was the son of G. "Bernard" Dungan, Jr. and the late Pearl Lee Bradshaw Dungan. Raised in Montross, George had many lasting friendships throughout his community and was known for his intelligence and genuine nature. George proudly served his country in the United States Navy, where he was stationed aboard the USS Finback, a fast-attack submarine. Following his military service, he established a successful career as a Managing Broker with East Coast Commercial Investment Realty in Fairfax, Virginia. George lived his life in faith and was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in King George. In his free time, he enjoyed target practice with friends, reading, and traveling to new places. George was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Pearl Lee Bradshaw Dungan. He is survived by his father, G. "Bernard" Dungan, Jr.; his sister, Mary D. Thomas and her husband, Dan; as well as several cousins, extended family members and dear friends. WILLS .. .. .. NORWAY MI -- Capt. Winston Douglas Wills, CEC, USNR (ret.), of Norway, went on eternal patrol on Sept, 13, 2026, at 85 years old. He was born in Norway, one of 10 children to the late William Winston Wills and Eleanor (Douglas) Wills. He graduated from Vulcan Public School in Vulcan in 1959 before enlisting in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. He served for three years aboard the USS Rock AGSs-274, an operating submarine in the Western Pacific, where he became "Submarine Qualified." Upon his discharge from active duty as an IC2(SS) in August 1962, he attended Michigan Technological University until his graduation in August 1966 with a B.S.C.E. While at Michigan Tech, he met and married the love of his life, Helen L. Eskola. They had three children, Laura, William and Dawn. He was very proud of his children, their families and their accomplishments. He worked as a civil engineer for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for 30 years and lived in Green Bay, Wis., and Superior, Wis. After graduation from Michigan Tech, he received a direct commission in the U.S. Naval Reserves, Civil Engineering Corps (Seabees). He served in the U.S. Navy Seabee Reserve in many positions, most notably as the commanding officer of RMCB 25 and Commodore of the Second RNCR. He served both active and reserves for a total of 34 years. He retired from the Navy in 1993 and retired from the Wisconsin DOT in 1996. He held a Professional Engineers License in Wisconsin and Michigan. In 1997, he and Helen moved back to Michigan to Lac Labelle and built a log home on the lake. He enjoyed running his Lucky Strike Charter Fishing business on Lake Superior and going to camp and deer hunting with his son and grandchildren. After spending their winters in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas for 16 years, they decided to quit their winter traveling, sold their log home in Lac Labelle, and moved to the Green Bay area near their daughter, Dawn, and her family. He spent his summers and fall at his camp in Michigan's Keweenaw, hunting and fishing. In 2021, they sold the camp in Michigan and purchased their home in the mountains of Payson, Ariz., a few minutes from where their daughter had moved with her family. He enjoyed the warmer winters, watching the elk and other wildlife around town, going on daily walks with his wife and going to his weekly veterans coffee meetings. He was a member of the Elks, American Legion Post 230, a life member of the United States Submarine Veterans, The Holland Club, a life member of Navy Seabees Veterans of America and can be found on the Navy Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. or online at https://navylog.navymemorial.org/wills-winston Besides his wife of 62 years, he is survived by his daughters, Laura L. Medus of Charleston, S.C., and Dawn M. Wills of Payson; his son, William W. Wills, and daughter-in-law Marie K. Wills of Superior, Wis.: 10 grandchildren, Jodi, Courtney, Brittany, Douglas, Travis, Jazmine, Felicia, Cody, Brianna and Garret; seven great-grandchildren, Patrick, Nadia, Logan, Tanner, Makenzie, Lucas and Winter; four sisters, Eleanor Gray, Susan Pinter, Sally Arcand, and Jacalyn Menghini; two brothers, Tom Wills, Edward Wills; and many nieces and nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by sister Nancy Chellew, and brothers James Wills and Peter Wills. | ||
