Jack Lynn Gracey – Virginia Beach

Jack Lynn Gracey, 86, passed away December 31, 2010 at his residence in Atlantic Shores Retirement Community. Capt. Gracey was born in Huntingdon PA and was raised in Lewistown PA. He was the only son of Earl Gracey and Neva Sue Keith, both deceased. He graduated from Lewistown High, class of 1942 and attended Pennsylvania State College before entering the U S Naval Academy.
He graduated from the Naval Academy with the class of 1948 and served on the USS Leyte CVA-10 for a short time before reporting for flight training at Pensacola, FL. He was designated a naval aviator in 1949 and married Betty Whiteman of Lewistown in 1951.
The first part of his career included assignments to propeller and jet aircraft squadrons, both fighter and attack. He served as a flight instructor in the Advanced Training Command, as a Catapult and Arresting Gear Officer on the USS Hornet CVA-12, Line School in Monterey CA and duty as a special weapons instructor followed by a year at the Army Command and General Staff College.
Capt. Gracey’s staff duties included assignments to CINCLANTFLT, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and ComNav Air Pac. He commanded Attack Squadron 15, served as Operations Officer and Executive Officer on the USS Independence CVA-62 and Executive Officer at NAS Alameda, CA.
He retired from the Navy in 1974. He and his wife settled in Southern CA and resided in San Diego County. While living in California he became involved in agriculture and real estate to become a broker operating his own real estate company. In 2001 he relocated with his wife to the east coast.
He is survived by his wife, Betty, and his daughter Susan Sakmar and her husband Michael of Daytona Beach, FL. Per his wishes there will be no service. His remains will be distributed at sea by the U.S. Navy, In lieu of flowers, he would want the Alzheimers Association to receive contributions. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cremate.org.