Roy T. Sturdivant

Roy T. Sturdivant Captain Roy T. Sturdivant, 92, embarked upon his "Final Voyage" and passed peacefully on November 28, 2014 in Bluffton, South Carolina, surrounded by his loving family. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend to many. He was also a World War II veteran and career US Merchant Marine officer. Roy was the son of Hubert Bascom Sturdivant and Ida Mae (Porter) Sturdivant. His ancestors were the Porter, Castle and Sturdivant families, who settled in Northeast Texas near the community of Bug Tussle in the 1880s. He was born on August 4, 1922 in Honey Grove, TX, a small town named by Davy Crockett when he camped there on his way to the Alamo. With his parents and three siblings, Roy lived most of his childhood on his maternal grandparents' farm in Fannin County, east of Bug Tussle. He attended Ladonia Public School where he played and excelled at football and baseball, and was an avid fan of both sports his entire life. Shortly after graduating in 1941, he went into the Merchant Marines becoming a licensed officer in 1943. During WW II, he rose in rank serving on Liberty Ships "Wiley Post", "James Fergus" and "William Asa Carter" delivering supplies to the battlegrounds of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and the Solomon Islands. After the war, he served on Moore-McCormack Lines' passenger ships and during a voyage to South America, met his wife-to-be and lifelong companion, Virginia Molina McAnulty, who was a passenger on his ship. Shortly thereafter they married in April 1951. In 1951, only 10 short years after entering maritime service, Roy was commissioned as Captain of the Victory Ship "Hunter", his first as a Ship's Master. His successful career with Moore-McCormack and American Export/Ferrell Lines continued until Roy retired in 1990 as Captain of Container Ship "American Ohio. His career as a Ship's Master comprised 39 years of sailing to virtually every major port-of-call globally, with a total of 49 years of service on the open seas. After leaving the high seas behind, Roy and Virginia spent their retirement years traveling between their homes in Hightstown, NJ and Rancho Bernardo, CA, as well as playing many rounds of golf and taking memorable trips with friends and family. In 2013, they made their final retirement move to Bluffton, SC to be near family members, John and Mimi Molina Brown. When commanding a ship, Roy was a stern, dedicated and well-respected Captain, but he had a gentle side that his shipmates rarely saw. He had a great love of animals, especially spending time with his beloved dogs and feeding and avidly watching blue birds as they nested outside his house. He and Virginia were generous supporters of many animal rescue organizations. Roy was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Hugh Sturdivant and Homer Sturdivant, sister Hulene Dale Scott and nephew Jerry Dale. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Virginia; son, George Sturdivant, Land-of-Lakes, FL; grandson, Cory Sturdivant, Ft Lauderdale, FL; five nephews and five nieces; and numerous great-nephews and great-nieces. Memorial contributions to honor Roy may be made to: Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, P.O. Box 3827, Bluffton, SC 29910 or Windom Senior Center, c/o Roy Perry, Windom, TX 75492.