Robert Clair Gildersleeve

Retired Master Chief Petty Officer Robert C. Gildersleeve left his earthly life on April 28, 2015 surrounded by family at VA Medical Center in Durham, NC after a short battle with lung cancer to join his Lord and Savior in his heavenly home.

A funeral service will be held 11:00 am Saturday, May 16, 2015 at Munden Funeral Home with Philip Routzong officiating. Interment will follow at Bayview Cemetery.

Robert proudly served his country for 26 years (1969 - 1995) in the United States Coast Guard. He completed his basic training in Alameda, CA.  His first tour of duty was on board the USCGC Klamath during the Vietnam Conflict. After his return to the states he attend electronics school on Governors Island New York where he learned his trade for the Coast Guard. From there he was stationed aboard the cutters the Chilula, Resolute, Midgett, and Polar Sea as well as the 5th Coast Guard District office and base Fort Macon, NC, Galveston, TX and Seattle, WA.

After retirement from the Coast Guard he attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA earning a Bachelors degree in Mathematics and Earth Science with a minor in Computer Technology. He taught for the North Carolina School system for 7 years and was voted Teacher of the Year his very first year teaching at Morehead City Middle School. He enjoyed volunteering for the National Parks Service, most recently the Cape Lookout Seashore.  In 2006 he retired for the second time and bought a Motorhome for traveling to see this great country of ours. He always had a desire to learn new things and share that knowledge with others.

Robert was born on October 8, 1949 to Clarence and Christenia Gildersleeve in Bellingham, WA and was raised on Douglas Island, near Juneau, Alaska. He had eight siblings.

While based at Fort Macon Coast Guard station he met and married his wife Beth Guthrie Gildersleeve. They were married on March 17, 1972 at Beth’s family home in the Promise Land.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years Beth Gildersleeve of Morehead City, NC; one son, Stacy Gildersleeve (wife Laura) of Woodland, WA ; one daughter, Christine Gildersleeve of Richmond, KY;  two grandsons Rene', and Joey; three granddaughters Claira Rose , Montana, and Skyler; and three nieces and three nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Christenia Gildersleeve, and eight siblings, Delmar, Clyde, Dick, Florence, Greta, Hazel, Helen, and Betty Mae.

Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 pm Friday, May 15 2015 at Munden Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank the VA Hospital in Durham for their compassionate care.

Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to the Cape Lookout National Seashore at 1800 Island Road Harkers Island, NC 28531 or the Chief Petty Officers Association, Coast Guard Base Fort Macon, 2301 East Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. of Morehead City.