Vincent Robert Ecclefield

Vincent Robert Ecclefield, age 92, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2014, at Golden Heights in Garnett. He was born on March 30, 1921, at Welda, Kansas, the son of Robert and Martha (Skillman) Ecclefield. Vincent graduated from Welda High School in 1939 and graduated from Allen County Community College in Iola June 1941, playing two years as a guard in All-State Football. Bob joined the United States Navy/Air Corps on December, 7, 1941. His career in the Navy began in January 1942 with basic flight training school in Kansas City, Kansas; following up in Pensacola, Florida in July 1942. Bob qualified as a carrier pilot in 1943 and in March 1943, he was assigned as Torpedo Bomber Pilot on the U.S.S. Saratoga, British Carrier (HMS Victorious). In June 1943, he was promoted to Lt. J.G., South Pacific. Bob was engaged from January 1944 through July 1945, in Anti-Submarine Patrols aboard Aircraft Carriers, U.S.S. Bogue; U.S.S. Core; U.S.S. Croatan; U.S.S. Guadalcanal; U.S.S. Prince William, in the North and South Atlantic. Being promoted to Lieutenant in August 1944, he was appointed as an Aircraft Crash Investigator in Norfolk, Virginia in July 1945 to October 1945. He also operated a flying school in Garnett, Kansas, from November 1945 to March 1946. He was recalled to active naval duty as Instructor Aviation Safety Officer in Pensacola, Florida from March 1946 through June 1947. Bob returned to civilian life as a Professional Golf Instructor and Manager of Redwood Falls Golf Club, Redwood Falls, Minnesota from June 1947 to August 1950. He was then recalled to active naval duty August 1950 through September 1951 in Korea and Japan, being promoted to Lt. Commander in June 1951. Bob was then promoted to Acted Instructor Close Air Support, U.S. Amphibious Base, Coronado, California from 1952 to 1955; promoted to Commander in September 1957; worked as a production planning officer, Quonset Point, Rhode Island, 1955 through 1957. He returned to civilian life as an insurance agent in San Diego, California in 1957 to 1965. He began as a foreman at Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, California from 1965 to 1968. He worked as a material coordinator at Rohr Corporation, in San Diego, California from 1968 to February 1986 when he retired as a senior auditor. Bob was united in marriage to Edith Fournier in Miami, Florida. They later divorced. He later married his second wife, Katherine E. Storz and she preceded him in death in 1984. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Jim Ecclefield; one brother, Thomas Ecclefield; and one sister, Elaine Keen. Bob is survived by two sons, Roger Ecclefield and Robbie Ecclefield of California; one brother, Wayne Ecclefield of Garnett, Kansas; and one sister, Lorna Belle Corder of Savannah, Missouri. Graveside inurnment services will be held on Friday, March 14, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at the Welda Cemetery, Welda, Kansas. Condolences to the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .