Bobbie Eugene Stratton, Sr., 86, passed away peacefully January 25, 2019 in Vero Beach, Florida. He was born in Ivel, Kentucky, April 29, 1932, where he grew up in the Store Holler with his extended family. As a young man, he was working at the Coca-Cola factory when he joined the Navy.
In 1951, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy, serving on the USS Shannon. While stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, he met the love of his life, his wife of 64 years, Elsie Marie Albritton. After enlisted service, he departed the Navy to attend college, returning to the Navy as an officer in 1959, retiring as a Commander in 1977.
Throughout his career, he proved to be a highly professional naval aviator and intelligence officer, making significant contributions to the Navy and Naval Air Force, Pacific and Atlantic fleets. He served under Admiral John McCain, Sr., and he was instrumental in the retrieval of both Apollo 16 and Apollo 17 missions. He crossed the equator twice and the international dateline while sailing all of the seven seas.
After his military retirement in 1977, he relocated to Fort Pierce, Florida, where he held positions as the dean of Jones Business College and Headmaster of Indian River Academy, before becoming Supervisor of Fruit Receiving at Tropicana, where he retired again. He was a respected basketball and soccer coach at IRA. In the Fort Pierce community, he was a baseball coach for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Obert Emil and Ruth Dixon Stratton of Flatwoods, Kentucky, and his brother, Ronald K. Stratton, of Goodyear, Arizona. Survivors include his wife, Elsie Marie Stratton of Fort Pierce; his children, Bobbie E. Stratton, Jr., Leslie J. Olsen, John W. Stratton, and Ernest E. Stratton; sister-in-law, Shirley Meyer; brother-in-law, Ralph Meyer; his nieces and nephews, Barbara Stratton, Paul Stratton, Reena Villegas, Russ Meyer, Joe Moore, Jodi Johnson, Glen Albritton; grandchildren, Ian Stratton, Shaun Olsen, Dane Olsen, Ashley Stratton, Hannah Stratton Allen, Haley Stratton, Caden Stratton, Blake Stratton, Nicolette Paige Hough, Garrin Hough; grand-nephew, Connor Stratton and great-grandchild, William E. York. Services: Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 from 2-3pm with the ceremony at 3pm at Haisley Funeral Home, 3015 Okeechobee Road, Fort Pierce.
In lieu of flowers, he has asked that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or any veteran’s association. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Bobbie Eugene Stratton Sr. please visit our Sympathy Store.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
