Justin Laing "Rip" Van Kleeck

Justin Laing 'Rip' Van KleeckHouston, TXJustin Laing 'Rip' Van Kleeck, Capt. USN (Ret), 87, of Houston, formerly of Corpus Christi, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, June 22, 2015. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2015, at 3:00 PM at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 2929 Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood, Texas, 77339. A military ceremony will take place at a later date at the U.S. Naval Academy.Justin was born November 14, 1927, in Troy, New York, to parents Mildred Laing and Loyal Filley Van Kleeck. Justin was a graduate of Berlin High School in Berlin, New Hampshire. He became interested in flying, and earned his pilot's license while still in high school. He attended Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute for one year and then was accepted at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated on June 2, 1950. The next day, he married Catherine Elizabeth Holter, of Brooklyn, New York, who he had met when they were summer employees at Mt. Washington Hotel and Resort in New Hampshire. Justin had a 26 year career as a Naval Officer, including service from the Korean War through the Vietnam War. He was an aircraft carrier pilot with hundreds of carrier landings during his career, including 214 landings on the USS Lexington while he was assigned first as Executive Officer then as Commander of VT-28 at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. Following his retirement from the Navy in 1976, he taught the NJROTC program at Corpus Christi Moody High School and served as district coordinator until 1989. He later volunteered on the USS Lexington as a guide and developed courses and also trained guides. Justin was also a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of York Rite and Scottish Rite, and a member of Sojourners.Justin was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Loyal Van Kleeck, his step-mother Ruth Ballagh, his wife Cathy Van Kleeck, and his half-brother Kenneth Van Kleeck. Left to celebrate his life and to mourn his death are his loving wife, Margie Bordelon Van Kleeck of Houston (who he met while volunteering on the Lexington), his brother Harry Van Kleeck of Florida, his son Brigadier General (Ret) David Van Kleeck, and wife Marilyn, his daughter Martha (Marty) Van Kleeck, and his grandsons Captain Michael Van Kleeck, US Army, and Brian Van Kleeck, and his 'adopted' daughter Linda Harris.In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to either the Alzheimer's Association or to the Wounded Warriors Project.