Ervin B. Rubey

1926 - 2013

Rubey, Ervin B. CORONADO -- Capt. Rubey U.S. Navy (Ret.) lost his battle with cancer and passed peacefully away August 20, 2013 in Coronado with his children by his side. He was born December 14, 1926 to Ervin Sr. and Mabel Testerman Rubey in Santa Barbara, CA. He attended Buellton grammar school and later graduated from Santa Ynez Valley High School in 1943. Rube joined the Navy that year and made it a career, retiring in 1977. During that span he served in three major wars: World War II, Korea, and Viet Nam. He married Mary Rose Jorgensen in 1952. His Naval career took him to many places around the world starting with some of the first photomapping of Alaska in the late 40's, to a PBM squadron in China right at the time Mao Tse Tung came to power and forced them out, to Atsugi, Japan; Alameda, CA; Los Alamitos, CA; San Diego, CA; Newport RI; Davisville, RI; Norfolk, Va; and Wellington, New Zealand. He flew a variety of propeller driven aircraft throughout his earlier years from air craft carriers and land bases. His duties ranged from Executive Officer of VS41 to Commanding Officer of VS23, to Intelligence Officer of the U.S.S. Yorktown, to Commanding Officer of Operation Deep Freeze, which is the Antarctic Support Activities at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. He has a glacier named for him there in honor of his service. He graduated from the Naval War College in Newport, RI and also earned a degree at URI. He next moved on to CINCLANTFLEET in Norfolk. His last duty was as the Naval Attache with the U.S. Embassy in New Zealand. In 1981, Rube started a new career with son Mark in an auto recycling business which spanned another 32 years where he earned a Dismantler of the Year award. He is survived by son Mark (Denise), daughters Robin (Mark E) and Christina (Daniel), grandchildren RoseAnna, Jonny, Martin, Amira, Kerina, great-grandchild Poppy, and his brother William A. Rubey (Sue). He will be missed by many friends and family. There will be a private service and a scattering of his ashes at sea to join his beloved wife Rose who preceded him in 2010. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Apreva Hospice.com here in San Diego or to Wounded WarriorProject.org.