Robert Dache Steele

Capt. Robert Dache Steele BOHANNON, Va. - Capt. Robert Dache Steele, USN (Ret.), 92, of Home Port, Bohannon, Virginia, died April 17, 2014, in his home. Born in Riverside, California, 10 March 1922, he was a son of the late Carl E. Steele and Margaret Reeves Steele. He attended public schools in California and New York. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy as a member of the Class of 1945 and graduated in June 1944 (Wartime Shortened Course). His Naval service included Submarine School, Deep Sea Diving School, Command and Staff Course and duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (Op 312C). He served in the USS O-8 (S 69) where he qualified in Submarines, USS BERGALL (SS 320), USS SPIKEFISH (SS404), Commanded USS SUNBIRD (ASR 15), Commanded USS SABLEFISH (SS303), Staff COMASWFORLANT, Staff of Submarine Squadron Twelve, Commanded Submarine Division One Twenty One, Staff of CINCUSNAVEUR, Commanded USS HOLLAND (AS32), Commanded U.S. Naval Station Annapolis, Maryland, and served as Chief of Staff of COMFIVE and NAVAL BASE Norfolk, Virginia. He was a founding member of the U.S. Navy Sailing Association in 1961 in Norfolk, Virginia. Capt. Steele retired in 1974 after 30 years of commissioned service. After retiring he taught sailing for 25 years from his home on the East River in Mathews County, Virginia. He was a member of Oriental Lodge # 20 AF & AM. He ran the Red Cross Learn to Swim Program for 28 years and operated a custom frame and crafts shop in Bohannon, Virginia. He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Betty Lou; brother, Wayne E. Steele; and granddaughter, Jennifer Carlile Foley. He is survived by his son, Robert Steele, Jr. (Judith); daughter, Pamela Steele (Judith Tanzola); daughter, Susan Steele Carlile (Gary); grandchildren, Robert D. Steele III (Beverley), Dr. Eva Carmine (Lance), Anders Steele (Alison), Daniel Carlile (Stephanie); great-grandchildren, Aidan and Zoe Steele, Dache and Lydia Carmine, Viola and Bjorn Steele, and Piper Carlile. A memorial service will be held at Grace-Providence United Methodist Church, Mobjack, Virginia, May 17, 2014, at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends after the service at West Mathews Civic League. Remains will be inurned at the Columbarium at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mathews YMCA Swimming Pool fund, the Grace-Providence United Methodist Church or Riverside Walter Reed Hospice. Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home, Mathews, Virginia, is handling the arrangements.