Robert William Slater

Captain Robert William Slater, USN Retired, 90, of Charleston, SC, passed away after a brief illness at Bon Secours-St. Francis Hospital on March 8, 2017. The relatives and friends of Capt. Robert William Slater are invited to attend his Funeral Service 5:00 PM Sunday, March 12, 2017 at the James A. McAlister Chapel, 1620 Savannah Highway, Charleston. The family will receive friends between 3:00 and 5:00 PM Sunday at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will take place 12:00 Noon Monday, March 13, 2017, at Beaufort National Cemetery. Born in Toledo, Ohio on November 10, 1926, Bob attended Morrison R. Waite High School, graduating with the Class of 1943. Electing to serve his country, Captain Slater left Ohio and entered the US Naval Academy in 1944, beginning a 34-year naval career. He graduated with the class of 1948 A, and also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning degrees in naval architecture and marine engineering. He served on the USS Grosbeak (AMS-14); the USS Towhee (AM-38), and later served as Chief Engineer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CVS-11). He also served as the Seventh Fleet Maintenance Officer in the Western Pacific, which sent him to Sasebo, Japan and the Republic of the Philippines. During his active duty service, Captain Slater was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, and WWII Victory Medal. Captain Slater retired in 1978 to Charleston, SC.He was preceded in death by his first wife of 63 years, Claire Manganaro Slater, originally from Providence, RI. He is survived by his second wife, Kathleen McCauley Slater of Charleston, SC; 4 Children: Robert H. Slater of Millsboro, DE, Thomas S. Slater of Raleigh, NC, Barbara Anne Slater of Charleston, SC, and Kalea Weaver of Norman Park, GA; ten grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, two daughters-in-law, and son-in-law to mourn his passing.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the USS Intrepid Museum (www.my.intrepidmuseum.org), Institutional Advancement Department, One Intrepid Square, W 46th St & 12th Ave, New York, NY 10036.