More detail on this person: Surrounded by his children, Robert Furney passed away peacefully
August 7, 20016 in the home he built in Pacific Grove. A proud native of Detroit, Bob was born
February 22, 1932 to Melvus Hayes and May Lyon Furney. Bob and his brother, Richard, spent a happy
childhood in the Motor City, obsessed by cars, and summers spent on their cousins' farm in Indiana.
After graduating from Highland Park High School, Robert attended Albion College where he pledged
Sigma Chi and met the love of his life, Mary Evelyn Craft. They married, and with Robert's Officer's
Commission started out on the first of their 22 moves with the Army. Bob became both a fixed and
rotary wing aviator and was stationed in many posts in the United States. He graduated from the
Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth. He served in Korea, the Dominican Republic,
Naples and two tours as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Their last posting was Fort Ord where they
fell in love with the area and settled in Pacific Grove. The couple enjoyed a sixty year marriage
before Mary passed away in 2014.
Bob was an active member and past Commodore of the Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club where he was
recently feted for his 40 years at the helm of his beloved sailboat, Yankee. He will be watching the
Shields Nationals from above and cheering on his club's team!
Robert was an active, lifelong Sigma Chi. He enjoyed the company of his aviator compatriots from the
Quiet Birdmen and his fellow old soldiers of the Fort Ord Alumni Association. The national
gatherings of the Vietnam Helicopters Pilots Association were a favorite destination. Bob enjoyed
many years of singing and friendship with the choirs of Fort Ord Main Post Chapel and Monterey
United Methodist Church.
Bob enjoyed meeting people, helping strangers, giving directions, and cooking breakfast for his many
welcome house guests.
Grandpa Bob will be missed by Brighid Strejc (John), Heidi and Kathleen Furney; Laura and Sara
Furney-Howe; and Mary and Joseph Gaule. Grandpa was very proud all his grandchildren were
employed! Other survivors include his rescue dog, Andy and children Richard (Kim), Leslie (Steve)
and Ellen (John); beloved sister-in-law, Sandra Craft, nephew Paul and niece Mary Sue (Steve) and
their children Robbie, Katie, Maggie and William; and cousin Jerry (Wanda) Glancy and all his other
Glancy kin.
The family wishes to thank the compassionate care of Dr. Zachary Koontz and the staffs of Pacific
Cancer Center, Community Hospital and the Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, August 11, 2016 at The Paul Mortuary, 390
Lighthouse, Pacific Grove, California 93950. Private burial will take place at El Carmelo Cemetary
in Pacific Grove.
Donations in Robert's name can be made to the Fort Ord Alumni Association Scholarship Fund c/o
CSUMB, 100 Campus Center Drive, Seaside, California 93955, or to give online csumb.edu/give and
denote FOAA Scholarship in the comments. It was one of the highlights of Bob's year to select and
meet recipients of this annual scholarship.
Please visit www.thepaulmortuary.com for condolences and guest book.
Burial: El Carmelo Cemetery, Pacific Grove, Monterey County, California, USA
This information was last updated 08/09/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
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Date posted on this site: 01/11/2025
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