Charles E. Steel – Captain, United States Navy

Captain Charles E. Steel, retired Navy, died Saturday, December 29, 2001.

He was the son of the late Charles P. and Frances Bates Steel of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.

He served in the Navy for 35 years. He graduated form the United States Naval Academy in 1954 and also attended Stanford University. His military career included serving in the Vietnam War as a Crusader fighter pilot credited with numerous night carrier landings.

His decorations included Legion of Merit, Air Medal (10), Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” (2), Navy Unit Commendation, National Defense  Service Medal with star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Later, he served as executive officer of NAFI in Indianapolis and then was assigned to Naval Air Systems Command, Washington as program and project director for various F-14 electronic warfare and communication systems. Upon retirement from the Navy, he worked for contractors in the Washington area and later moved to North Myrtle Beach, where he was an active member of the VFW Post 10804.

Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Catherine M. Steel; a son, Charles E. Steel Jr. of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; two daughters, Cynthia Roache of Reston, Virginia, and Cheryl Francis of Abingdon, Virginia; four stepchildren, Pamela Elcesser of Reston, Virginia, Lisa Kirby of Sterling, Virginia, Cathy Rawls of Maysville, West Virginia, and Leo Gordijenko of Leesburg, Virginia; eight grandchildren, Elise and David Roache and Matthew and Timothy Elcesser, all of Reston, Candace Gordijenko of Maysville, Samantha Kirby of Sterling
and Hanna Gordijenko of Leesburg; a brother, George Steel of Huntingdon; two sisters, Betty Johnson of Eugene, Oregon, and Janet Hefright of Huntingdon. He was predeceased by his first wife, Dorothy Waite Steel and a grandson, John Gordijenko.

Visitation will be from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Jan. 14 at Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden St., Herndon, Virginia. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10804, 111 Highway 47, Longs, South Carolina 29568 or the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis Maryland 21401.

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