Lt. Col.Robert G. Straine (USMC, Ret.)

Lt. Col. Robert G. Straine (USMC Ret.), 94, died Tuesday, June 15, 1999, at Emerald Ridge Nursing Center. Col. Straine was born March 31, 1905, in Franklin, and was a son of the late Floyd and Norma Opal Stewart Straine. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Edith May Coumbe Straine; a daughter, Sally Norma Straine Parsons; a sister, Flora S. Richardson; and a brother, Irwin Straine. Col. Straine enlisted in the Marines in 1928. During his 30 years in the Marine Corps, he served in the West Indies, Hawaii, Korea, and both coasts of the US. During WW II he served in the New Hebrides and New Caledonia. He is also a veteran of the Korean Conflict. At the time of his retirement in 1958, he was Executive Officer, Marine Corps Engineer School at Camp Lejeune. In 1961, he went to work at Asheville-Biltmore College as Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds when it moved to its present site, later becoming UNC-A. He retired from that position in December, 1967. He was a member of the Retired Officers Association and of Oceanside Elks Lodge, Oceanside, CA. During a Memorial Day Service on May 29, 1999, Col. Straine was awarded a citation by Congressman Taylor's office for being the oldest veteran at Emerald Ridge. He is survived by a daughter, Roberta Grant Straine Elingburg and her husband, James Ray Elingburg, of Weaverville; two sisters, Mary S. Byrd and Harriett S. Phillips of Franklin; five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and three step-great-grandchildren. Graveside services were held at Holly Springs Cemetery in Franklin. A memorial service will be 4:00 pm Saturday, July 24, in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with Chaplain Ralph Reed officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Asheville High School Marine JROTC.