Wednesday ObitsCoyote |
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Master and Commander Posts: 1455 Location: NE Florida | Subject: Wednesday Obits https://www.facebook.com/ussvi.eternalpatrol/ 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. SAUNDERS .. .. .. Walter Daniel “Dan” Saunders went to heaven on May 2, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Dan was born on August 5, 1941, in Goldendale to Walter Kenneth and Grace Lenora Saunders (Ogden). He spent his childhood growing up in Glenwood, Washington alongside his siblings Marilyn Grace, Dixie Irene, Mary Christine, Fred Leroy, and Willene Frances. In 1959, Dan joined the United States Navy, serving as an Electrician’s Mate Second Class aboard the submarine USS Capitain—quite a challenge for a man who stood 6’6” tall. That same year, Dan married Shirley Roberts. Together they raised four children: Dottie Truelove (Kevin), Joe Saunders (Patti), Willy Saunders, and Dan Saunders (Lisa). In 1988, Dan married Kathy Roth and was blessed with three bonus children: John Roth (Sandie), Kim Hartley (Pat), and Tracy King (Jeff). Dan was a proud grandfather and great-grandfather to many biological grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but to countless others he was simply “Grandpa Dan.” He loved children deeply, and they were naturally drawn to his kindness, patience, and gentle spirit. Dan spent most of his life working as an independent tree faller and was also a highly skilled gunsmith. His talents extended far beyond his work. He was a scrimshaw artist, leather worker, builder, and—at times—even the family doctor. He approached everything he did with creativity, wisdom, and generosity. A devoted man of faith, Dan volunteered for 25 years with the jail ministry at Skamania County Jail. Through his compassion, honesty, and unwavering faith, he led many people to Jesus and formed lifelong friendships. Dan loved unconditionally and without judgment, freely sharing his own life journey to encourage others. Dan was a man of God and a true patriot. He touched the lives of everyone who had the honor of knowing him. His selflessness, warmth, and generous spirit will be remembered always. He leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, faith, and compassion that lives on in all who knew and loved him. Dan was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters Dixie, Marilyn, and Christy. He is survived by his wife Kathy; his children and bonus children; his siblings Fred Leroy and Willene Frances; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family members, and dear friends. THACKER .. .. .. John Thacker, 89, St Onge, died May 15, 2026, at the Spearfish Canyon Healthcare Center. John was born March 29, 1937, in Newcastle WY, to Fred and Mary (Dibble) Thacker. He grew up in the Deadwood area and later moved to Spokane, WA, with his family. John enlisted and proudly served his country in the United States Navy for four years, spending much of his service aboard a submarine, an experience he carried with quiet pride throughout his life. After his military service, John returned to the Black Hills of South Dakota, a place he always considered home. On August 8, 1959, he married the love of his life, Darleen Lester, beginning a devoted marriage of 67 years. Together, they raised three daughters. John was a professional ski instructor at Terry Peak Ski Area for many years, sharing his passion and skill with countless students. In 1984, John and Darleen established Video Pro, which they operated until their retirement in 2005. Throughout his life, He enjoyed hunting, camping, fishing, and was an avid skier and windsurfer, John loved music and could play most instruments by ear. He was known for his charismatic personality, John could talk to anyone and genuinely enjoyed connecting with people. He took great pleasure in leaving others with a smile, a trait that defined him and endeared him to many. John is survived by his wife of 67 years, Darleen, his daughters Linda (Woody) Hover, St Onge, Lorelei Rosales, Billings, MT and Lisa Thacker, Billings, MT, eight grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren. CATES .. .. .. Francis Berwick Cates, known as “Berwick” to his South Carolina community, “Frank” to his Georgia friends, and “Papa Frank” to his family, passed away peacefully on May 16, 2026, at the age of 96. Born on August 23, 1929, in Rockville, South Carolina, on Wadmalaw Island, Berwick never stopped thinking of himself as “just a boy from Rockville,” despite a life filled with service, accomplishment, adventure, heartbreak, humor, and deep love for family. Raised during the Great Depression by a strong Irish family in the close-knit community of Rockville, Berwick learned early that life required grit, hard work, resilience, and determination. The women in his family—his mother, aunt, and grandmother—helped provide the stability and foundation that shaped him. Education mattered deeply to him because he believed it was the path toward opportunity and a better life. Those beliefs stayed with him throughout his life and shaped the way he approached work, success, and providing for his family. At just 17 years old, with World War II underway and a desire for adventure bigger than the boundaries of Wadmalaw Island, Berwick joined the United States Navy. He proudly served aboard the USS Medregal submarine, beginning what would become a lifetime of stories, experiences, and friendships. Following his military service, he attended and graduated from Clemson University. He began a long career in agriculture and public service as a County Extension Agent in Charleston County, South Carolina, and later with the University of Georgia in Clarke County, Georgia. He eventually became Vice President of Agricultural Operations for the Southern Frozen Foods Division in Macon County, Georgia, where he earned respect for his practical knowledge, leadership, and tireless work ethic. Even after retirement, Berwick’s interest in agriculture never faded. He later founded Western Seed Multiplication, Inc. and at one time held a patent for a variety of pea he developed. Berwick loved plants, gardens, and growing things, and he passed that love down to his children and grandchildren. He could not stand a weed and believed a yard, much like life, should be cared for properly. Whether talking about sunflowers, peas, crops, tomatoes, or lawns, he always had an opinion—and usually expected it to be followed. After his years in Macon County, Berwick returned to his beloved boyhood home of Rockville, a place that always remained closest to his heart. Berwick became almost as well known for his yard as for his personality. Living across from a church, he could often be found outside pulling weeds while churchgoers walked by on Sunday mornings. Friends and neighbors would laugh and say, “There’s Berwick, praying over his grass again.” He was known as a spitfire and a fighter well into his nineties, and even at 96, loving caregivers would remark that he still had plenty of spunk left in him. He was charming, funny, flirtatious, opinionated, generous, stubborn, and sometimes a little crass—often all at once. He never met a stranger and rarely left a gathering without everyone knowing exactly who he was. Berwick could charm a room, especially the ladies, and he had a gift for making friends wherever he went. Despite his strong opinions, Berwick was also surprisingly open-minded. He loved lively conversations, spirited debates, and discussions about politics, current events, religion, and controversial topics with anyone willing to engage. He especially enjoyed those conversations with family and friends and appreciated people who could hold their own in a discussion. Like most people who live long and full lives, Berwick was not a simple man. His life held both joyful memories and difficult ones, love and hurt, pride and regret. But those who knew him best also knew his loyalty to friends, his devotion to hard work, his determination to provide for his family, and the deep love he shared with Mary Ann. In the end, families carry both the beautiful and complicated parts of love forward together, with honesty, grace, and forgiveness. Later in life, he moved to Houston County, Georgia, to be closer to family after his wife, Mary Ann, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He passed away there surrounded by the family who loved him. He was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Margie Nell Knox Cates in 1984, and his sister, Shirley Rose Cates Meares, in 2009. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Haugabook Cates; his children, Dean Morris Cates (Jenny), Rebecca Florence Cates Moody (Kyle), Charles Berwick Cates, and Edward Mikell Cates; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his stepchildren, William Steven Haugabook, Jr. (Sally) and Kelly Haugabook Beach, and two step-grandchildren, all of whom held an important place in his life. | ||
