Eugene Maurice Savage

Commander Eugene Maurice (‘Doc’) Savage, USN (Ret), 89, dropped anchor on April 15, 2023. Born in Robeson County, North Carolina in January 1934, he grew up in Warwick County, VA and enlisted in the Navy at 17 when the Korean War began. He was a “Mustang,” and received his commission in 1964. Doc wore navy blue for more than 30 years.

Doc was an aircraft maintenance professional, a ‘tailhooker’ with carrier aircraft. He served on several aircraft carriers, naval air stations, and fighter squadrons, including USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, Essex, Intrepid, Ticonderoga, Iwo Jima, Independence, and John F. Kennedy; NAS Cecil Field, Saufley Field, Norfolk, and Pensacola, FL; Fighter Squadrons VF-11 and VF-14 at Cecil Field; VF-81 and VF-33 at Oceana. He made numerous Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Southeast Asia cruises during the Cold War and Vietnam era. He was Maintenance Officer in Training Air Wing Six in Pensacola, with Atlantic Fleet Headquarters, and the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon. He retired in 1981 while AIMD Officer aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). After retirement, Doc spent an additional 12 years as a government contractor.

He was married to Celeste Vincent of Memphis, TN until her death in 1993. Ten years later, he married Gladys King until her death in 2005. He was predeceased by his mother Rose Annie Branch, father Richard Acrol Savage, and brothers Dick, Bill, Carlton and Donald Savage. He leaves four children: daughters Annette Long (Norm Murray) of Virginia Beach, Donna Bennett Batchelor (Dan) of Virginia Beach, VA, Julie Hardesty (Mike) of Chesterton, IN; a son, Mike Savage (Jackie) of Virginia Beach, VA and nine grandchildren: Jennifer Benincasa (Liam), Casey Matson (Matthew), Chase Long; Aimee Sellers (Craig), Margo Savage-Morrison (Joseph), Meredith Gajovski (Steven), of Great Lakes, IL, Allison Reavis (Nick) of Locust Grove, GA; Monica Bennett of Jacksonville, FL, Grant Bennett of Miami, FL; and fifteen great-grandchildren: Brendyn, Camdyn, and Emersyn Benincasa; Haley Frye, Daniel, Nolan, and Elijah Sellers; Jason Matson; Hudson Savage-Morrison; Kennedy and Jordan Long; Charles, Andrew, and Juniper Gajovski; and Riley Reavis.

He would walk through the halls and see someone he did not know and say "Hi Pal!". He was generous to his family and friends and causes that were important to him. He was a great Shipmate, Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle and Friend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to his favorite causes.SS American Memorial Foundation (https://ssamemorial.org/), the Military Sea Services Museum (http://www.milseasvcmuseum.org/), or Buffs Garden (www.buffsgarden.com).

An onboard military funeral will take place at sea, courtesy of the US Navy. A Celebration of Life is planned for friends and family on May 5, 2023 from 5-8 pm at The Attic at Waterman's, 415 Atlantic Ave, VB.

Enjoy the heavenly Happy Hour Dad!

Happy is the sailor gone back to sea! He had a full life…