John Boone Schley
John Boone Schley, Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired), was born in Shepherdstown, on Aug. 30, 1918. He was the son of the Mollie Boone and Harrison Schley of Shepherdstown.
He attended Shepherd College and a Navy program at Northwestern University. He was commissioned an ensign in the Naval Reserve in March 1941, and later transferred to the regular Navy. His thirty years of naval service was mainly in destroyers with several tours of duty with the Navy Department in Washington, D.C. At age 24 he commanded USS Stringham, a WWI vintage destroyer, through much of the action in the Pacific during WW II. He later commanded the destroyers, USS Rodman and USS Stickell, each for two years, and then, with the title of commodore, he commanded a division of five destroyers. He also commanded the ammunition ship, USS Mount Katmai. He served as Head, Long Range War Plans Section on staff of Commander Allied Forces, Northern Europe, in Oslo Norway, a NATO command. His final assignment was a Base Commander at Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia. He retired in June 1970.
He was a veteran of World War II, Korea, and Viet Nam. In World War II, he participated in following major engagements: North Africa, Sicily, Salerno in Italy, Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas, Angar and Pelelieu in Palau Islands, and Okinawa. He was also involved in many convoy actions in the North Atlantic, including the tragic PQ17 to Mermansk, Russia in July 1942.
After retiring, he was active in civic affairs, serving for 15 years on Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Appeals; as member Board of Managers at Jefferson Memorial Hospital for 10 years; as a charter member and past president of Jefferson Historic Landmarks Commission; as board member Jefferson County Historical Society; and as board member of Historic Shepherdstown Commission. He was also a member and former Chef de Gare of 40 & 8 Voiture 1358. He was also a Meals on Wheels volunteer for many years.
He is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth S. Slepetz, Woodbridge, Virginia, and by a son, William B. Schley, Shepherdstown, and a granddaughter, Susan E. Slepetz, Occoquan, Virginia. He was proceeded in death by his wife, Jean S. Schley, by a son, John B. Schley, Jr., a grandson, Stephen L. Slepetz, Jr., two sisters, Mary Stockton Brown and and Rebecca S. Smith, and one brother, Benjamin H. Schley.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 1, 2015 at Trinity Episcopal Church, Shepherdstown with the Reverend Dr. G.T. Schramm officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to Shepherdstown Day Care Center, P.O. Box 388, Shepherdstown, WV 25443 or Hospice of the Panhandle, 330 Hospice Lane, Kearneysville, WV 25430.
Arrangements by Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home, Charles Town.
Please sign the online guestbook and view his obituary at www.mtstrider.com