Stephen Carkeek

Stephen Carkeek
Portsmouth - Captain Stephen G. Carkeek, United States Coast Guard Retired, passed away quietly at his home in Portsmouth, Virginia on August 2, 2012. He is survived by his three children, Lesley Miner and husband John of Elizabeth City, N. C., Stephanie Bovio and husband David of Georgetown, MA. and Bruce Carkeek of Portsmouth, VA., two sisters, Ruth Benson and Carol Carkeek of San Diego, CA., three grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Stephen Carkeek, originally from Pasadena California, entered the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1938 and graduated in December 1941. During World War II he served aboard the Coast Guard Cutter NORTHLAND in the Greenland Patrol and aboard the USS LANSING (DE 388) on North Atlantic convoy duty. He was Commanding Officer of the LANSING in the Pacific when the war ended.
At the outbreak of the Korean Conflict he was given Command of the Coast Guard Cutter RICHEY (WDE 485) on search and rescue and ocean station duty in the Pacific. At the end of the Korean conflict he was serving as Executive Officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter DUANE on North Atlantic weather patrol.
Other notable assignments included two tours at the Coast Guard Academy. His first tour was as an Instructor in Physics and Seamanship. His second tour was as head of the Professional Studies Department where he also served as Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Training Barque EAGLE. He served as Executive Officer of the Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, NJ and Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Cutter SEBAGO. His last duty station was as Chief of Staff for the Fifth Coast Guard District in Portsmouth, Virginia. He retired in 1972.
Stephen Carkeek was a member of Saint Christopher's Episcopal Church where he served on the vestry and was treasurer for many years. For his outstanding work as treasurer he was presented with the Golden Christopher Award.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday August 18, 2012 at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, VA. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to either St. Christopher's Episcopal Church Endowment Fund, 3300 Cedar Lane, Portsmouth, VA. 23703; or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, 2nd Floor, Bethesda, MD. 20814. The family would like to give special thanks to Doctor Kevin Wilson for his care and concern.