A.L. Stickles II

A.L. Stickles II MARCO ISLAND, Fla. - Retired U.S. Navy Capt. A.L. Stickles II passed away quietly on Marco Island Nov. 5, 2010. Born Feb. 14, 1922, he was the son of Dr. Albert L. Stickles and Agatha Fulco Stickles in La Junta, Colo. Capt. Stickles graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served in both the European and Pacific theatres of World War II, including D-Day, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He earned numerous medals during his naval career. After post-graduate school, Capt. Stickles was recalled to sea for duty in Korean waters. Next reporting to Princeton, N.J., he worked with Oppenheimer, Albert Einstein, and Dr. Von Neumann to produce the first digital computers for government work. He oversaw the installation of the weather computer at Suitland, Md., and served as an aide to the White House. In 1957, he participated in the nation's 350th celebration as captain of the USS Hunt before returning to Norfolk, where he assumed command of the USS J.C. Owens. In 1965 he commanded the USS Nitro, and then in 1968 he was sent to Vietnam where he commanded 23 ships. Upon his return, he was sent to the Pentagon where he pioneered the PO system of expenditures and was promoted to be comptroller of the Navy. Retiring from the Navy in 1972, he developed the C3 system as a consulting analyst while working for Techplan Corp, Semcor and Eco Inc. He moved permanently to Marco Island, in 1979 finally permanently retiring in 1994 where he resided until his death. He was a Master Mason, Knights Templar, a Kiwanis and a Shriner as well as a member of the American Legion and the VFW. He was also a senior warden of St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Marco Island. A memorial with military honors will be performed graveside at Olive Branch Cemetery in Portsmouth on Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. He will be laid to rest with his beloved wife and his two daughters under a marker that reads: "Love Never Dies." Snellings Funeral Home, Churchland Chapel, handling arrangements.