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: 03/11/2023
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