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Lieutenant Commander Virgil F. McCaleb, U.S. Navy retired, died unexpectedly at home in San Antonio on December 20, 2024. He was 83. He is survived by his wife of eight years, Doris Seledon McCaleb; his children, Jolene McCaleb of Albuquerque, NM, and Lee McCaleb (Patricia) of Oak Hill, VA; his grandchildren, Robert, Ryan and Tara McCaleb, all of Oak Hill, VA; his brothers, Thomas (“Tom”) McCaleb (Virginia) of Teague, TX, and Clyde (“Pete”) McCaleb of Jacksonville, FL. Virgil was preceded in death by his parents, Johnson Lee (“JL”) and Vera (née Mott). Virgil was born on August 12, 1941, in Centralia, Illinois, and grew up in Amarillo, Texas. After graduating from Amarillo High, he joined the Navy in 1959. He then married his first wife, JoAnn (née McMillen), to whom he was married for 30 years and with whom he had his two children. During his Navy career, Virgil received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico and then attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. Virgil’s time in the Navy took him around the world. During the Vietnam War, he served aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise and then as Chief Engineer of the U.S.S. Stein. He later attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and obtained an M.B.A. from the Sloan School of Management and an Engineer’s Degree in Naval Architecture. Virgil’s final tour of duty was as Supervisor of Shipbuilding at Ingall’s Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. He retired from the Navy in 1980. After retiring, Virgil worked for various government contractors around the country, including SEACOR, DYNCORP, CMS, and Act-I. He also spent a significant amount of time in Europe, especially France. At the time of his death, Virgil was still working full time as a health insurance agent for USHEALTH Advisors, a job he enjoyed because of the relationships he built with his co-workers, his networking partners, and his clients. Virgil spent the last two decades of his life in his home state of Texas, first in Waco and then in San Antonio, where he met and married Doris and was welcomed into her large family. Virgil loved traveling with Doris and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and entire extended family. Virgil was a connoisseur of Scotch whisky and French wines, and he loved making good use of his smoker and grill to prepare meals for family and friends. Virgil was living life to its fullest when he passed, and he will be deeply missed by his family and his many friends. Virgil will be buried at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.

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LCDR Virgil F. McCaleb USN RET

August 12, 1941 - December 20, 2024