WICOMICO CHURCH—Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Robert Wills Chewning passed away peacefully at his home,Wicomico View, in Wicomico Church on December 2, 2025, at the age of 95.
Bob or “Bop” was born December 23, 1929, in Charlottesville. He was the son of Dr. Carroll Wills Chewning and Vivienne Akers Chewning. He grew up in Orange and graduated from Randolph Macon Academy in Front Royal. He attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville for one year before receiving his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, where he graduated in June of 1953.
Upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy, Bob married Virginia Louise Harvey and for 34 years they traveled the world with Bob’s career until he retired March 31,1983. They lived in Florida, Virginia, South Carolina, Connecticut, Idaho, California, Hawaii, Washington, D.C., Turkey and Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. Ginny always made a beautiful loving home and made many friends wherever they were stationed.
As Rear Admiral, Bob had a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service, having commanded the USS Haddo (SSN-604), one of the U.S. Navy’s attack submarines as well as submarine squadrons and divisions. His first flag assignment was in 1974 as Chief Navy Section, Joint U.S. Military Mission for Aid to Turkey and later held staff positions in the office of the Chief of Naval Operation at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. From June 1979 until June 1981, he served as the Commander Middle East Forces and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. He then served as Director of Plans and Policy, on the staff of United States Pacific Command (CINPAC) in Hawaii before serving as Senior Representative for the 1983 Philippine Base Negotiations under the Joint Chiefs of Staff Washington, D.C.
His awards include the Legion of Merit, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon with Bronze Star and the Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, Navy Expeditionary Medal, China Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.
After retiring from the U.S. Navy, Bob and Ginny moved to Texas and in 1988 Bob became vice president nuclear assurance for Houston Lighting and Power Company South Texas Project, Bay City, Texas. In 1990 he became vice president of nuclear support South Texas Project, Wadsworth, Texas. He retired from Houston Lighting and Power Company in 1993.
After retiring again in 1993, Bob and Ginny moved to their beloved Trout Creek Ranch in the Pahsimeroi Valley, in Ellis, Idaho. For the next 25 years they were active members of the community, presiding over church service at St. Phillips Episcopal Church in Challis, Idaho, to organizing and running Choral Rendezvous, a one-week summer choral gathering for singing and performing. They gardened, skied, camped, fished, hiked and entertained family and friends at their “River Runs Through It” property.
Bop influenced every generation of his family by promoting the love of adventure, the freedom of being in the wilds of nature and back road cruising in his 1993 Dodge pickup truck. In 2018 they permanently moved back to their beautiful home on The Great Wicomico River outside of Wicomico Church.
Robert W. Chewning is survived by his daughter, Carol-Winter Allen (John); son, Rush W. Chewning (Joanne); grandsons, R. Wills Allen (Anna), Lee B. Allen (Bess), Joseph Wills Chewning and Robert Collier Chewning; and great-grandchildren Conrad, Robert, Vivienne, Charles, Jane Louise and David. He cherished his beloved dog and companion Alfie.
Bob is preceded in death by his loving wife of 69 years, Virginia Harvey Chewning; his daughter, Virginia Sue Chewning; his brother, Dr. Richard C. Chewning; and his first cousin, Robert M. Pinkham.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Grace Church Chapel in Kilmarnock.
The Chewning family would like to extend our gratitude to all those that helped care for Bob and made it possible for him to live out his life at home: Brenda, Jackie, Shannon, Dr. Joseph Bessler, hospice nurse Julia and Trecola and her team of caregivers. Thank you.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
