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"Rob"
Robert K. Singletary
“Rob” Robert K. Singletary, 33, of Moyock, North Carolina,
formerly of Grand Island, died Thursday,
January 15, 2009 at a hospital in Richmond, VA from
a sudden illness.
Memorial Service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at All Faiths
Funeral Home. The Reverend Daniel Bremer will officiate.
Mr. Singletary was born February 11, 1975 in Grand
Island the son of Robert and Betty Singletary.
Survivors are is his wife Dara (Williams) Singletary;
daughters, Skylar and Sienna; parents Judy Kraft and Richard Kraft
both of Grand Island; sisters and brothers-in-law, Cindy and Max
Rodriguez of Grand Island, Gene and Bart Koch of Cozad, Sheri Singletary
of Elm Creek, Tonya and Felix Rodriguez of Grand Island and Tammy
and Allen Wilshusen of Hebron; brothers and sisters-in-law, Rick
and Traci Kraft and Randy and Sandra Kraft all of Grand Island; father-in-law
and mother-in-law, Robert and Louise Williams of Grand Island and
sister-in-law, Rachel Williams of Grand Island.
He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and
his constant companion since 1995, their border collie, Kennedy. His
brother Greg Kraft, birth mother Betty (Smith) Singletary and grandparents,
Raymond and Mildred Smith preceded him in death.
Rob attended elementary school at Lincoln and Westlawn, then
went to Walnut Junior High, and graduated in 1993 from GISH. He
was active in debate and cross country. He worked at Skate Island for many years and was a champion
speed skater.
He joined the US Navy in 1993. Following “A” School
he was assigned to the USS Arkansas (CGN 41), where his primary responsibility
was to track, identify and report all air contacts utilizing own
ship’s RADAR sensors as well as exchange information with other
ship’s utilizing various Tactical Data Information Links. While
stationed aboard USS Arkansas, Rob deployed to the Persian
Gulf in 1994, again in 1996, and was promoted to the
rank of Second Class Petty Officer.
Following the de-commissioning of USS Arkansas, Rob
went to Air Intercept Control School in San
Diego and was assigned to USS Princeton (CG-59),
where he was a tactical air controller for the F-18s flying from
the deck of aircraft carrier USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70). While
stationed aboard USS Princeton, Rob deployed to the Persian
Gulf in 1998, and was promoted to the rank of First Class
Petty Officer.
Following his sea tour in USS Princeton, Rob was assigned
as an instructor at Fleet Combat Training Center Pacific, San Diego. He was
the lead instructor in the office of Tactical Data Information Links,
and while there was selected to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He
was then moved with his ship, the USS Arkansas, to Bremerton, Washington (1995-1997). Next he moved
to San Diego and
was an instructor for the Navy. He joined the USS Princeton
in 1999. While on the USS Princeton, he became an intercept
controller. After 8 years of active duty, he honorably discharged
as an OS1 (SW) and went to work as a government contractor in the
private sector. This ultimately moved him to Virginia Beach, VA. He loved to ride ships, being on
the open water, and had a great love for the service.
In 1995, he married Dara (Williams) Singletary, his
junior high/high school sweetheart. Together they shared an
amazing life with great friends and many adventures. They loved
to go snow skiing, boating and camping. In 2003 they built
a house in Moyock, North Carolina. In
2004, his first daughter was born, Skylar Louise Singletary. He
adored her and spent many nights on her bedroom floor with her just
watching her sleep. In 2007, his daughter Sienna Ruth Singletary
was born. He was an amazing father and husband and always looked
out for their well-being ahead of his own.
His favorite past times were watching Nebraska football,
riding his Harley-Davidson Fat Boy, taking his boat out and just
enjoying the open water, and teaching and watching his girls grow. He
had an amazing mind for American and military history.
He will be dearly missed and loved as we know it was
time for him to go home and have eternal peace. But, he will
never be forgotten as he touched so many lives in his short one.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Rob
Singletary daughter’s memorial fund.
