George Cartledge

George E. Cartledge NORFOLK - George Edward "Granddaddy" Cartledge, 88, U.S. Navy retiree and World War II veteran, reported to his final duty station Aug. 9, 2008. He was born in Johnston, S.C. to Samuel and Letha Jackson Cartledge and raised in Evans, Ga. After high school, he worked for Western Union in Augusta, Ga. In 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard where he spent four years. He then transferred to the U.S. Navy where he served for 19 years. He loved telling the story that in his four years in the Coast Guard he saw more of the world than in the 19 years of Navy service. He was most proud of being part of the initial occupation of Nagasaki after the Japanese surrender. In the Navy, he became a communications specialist serving in Key West, Fla., Pensacola, Fla., Newport, R.I., Long Island, N.Y., Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Cheltenham, Md., and Chincoteague, Va., and aboard U.S. Navy ships USS Cambria and USS Canberra. Following retirement from the Navy, he became a civil service employee working for Naval Security at Norfolk Naval Station where he retired in 1983. He also was employed during the same period by The Virginian Pilot-Ledger Star in ad services and retired after 26 years of service. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Hazel "Pat" Cartledge and his beloved grandson, Douglas Edward Cartledge. He is survived by children, Edward H. of Hayes, Va., Karan L. Jackson and husband Fred of Morehead, Ky., Thomas C. and wife Brenda of Norfolk, George W. and partner Jim of Virginia Beach, and Daniel L. of Norfolk; grandchildren, Mark D. Jackson, Melinda Rice, Rebecca Cartledge, Phillip Cartledge, Chelsie Cartledge and Taryn Dreggers; as well as great-grandchildren, Madison, Gabrielle, Ryan, Logan, Alexandra, Olivia and Julia. Brothers and sister give special thanks to their brother Tom, his wife Brenda, and daughter Chelsie who have been the primary caregivers in Dad's twilight years. A funeral will be held at Kellum Funeral Home, 601 N. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, Thursday. Family visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. with a memorial service at 10 a.m. led by family friend, the Rev. David Gardner. Following the service, burial will be at Rosewood Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 875 N. Randolph St., Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203-1977 or online at www.nmcrs.org.