R. Ned McCormick

1926 - 2014

Longtime Anchorage, Alaska, resident Robert "Ned" McCormick passed away in his home on Sept. 27, 2014. Born in Indiana on Feb. 1, 1926, Ned was orphaned as an infant. From the time he was eight, he spent years working hard on Indiana farmlands during the Great Depression days; he attended government schools, graduated high school and managed to race motorcycles too. Ned never forgot his roots and faithfully through these years he would send a generous monthly donation back to an American Indian Tribe in Indiana. In 1949, Ned rode with a close friend to Alaska. Shortly upon arrival to Anchorage, Ned accepted an employment offer to work as a civilian on Elmendorf Air Force Base, in the sheet metal shop, from which he retired as the operations supervisor-manager after 33 years. For hobbies, Ned enjoyed shooting pool several times a month at the Elks Club, the Moose Lodge and the Senior Center. He also raced speed boats for which he accumulated several trophies for his wins during the 1960s at Lake Louise in the Matanuska Valley. On New Year's night 1967, a quiet passion was ignited in Ned when he met a red-headed lady named Alma Foster at the Civilian Club on base; in March 1979, he made an honest woman of her when they married in Carson City, Nev.; his beloved wife passed in 2011. Ned, affectionately known as "Sweetpea", is survived by children, Fern (Mickey) Potts, Cecilia Lobdell, Harold Rudolph, Sharon Kay, Joe Rudolph, Delores (Terry) Tuttle, Mona Robison and Diane Shrader all of Anchorage; Marsha Montgomery of Texas; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind Joe and Peggy Minton of Texas, best friends since 1963; and longtime friend, Ed Krishnan of Anchorage. A public graveside service will be held Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, at 2 p.m. at the Anchorage Memorial Park located at 535 E. 9th Avenue.