Capt. Robt. S. Gleason Graduates at Oklahoma Captain Robert S. Gleason, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve) was graduated from Oklahoma University Sunday, August 7, attaining a B.S. degree in Geology. Captain Gleason was a former resident of Port Chester and Rye and attended local schools including Port Chester and Rye High Schools. He also attended New York University and Bridgeport University of Bridgeport, Conn, and thereafter entered the military service and received his first commission in the Marine Corps at Quantico, Va. His wife is the former Martha Wallingford of Larchmont, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Wallingford of the same address. Captain and Mrs. Gleason with their two children, Susan and Michael will reside in Norman, Okla. Captain Gleason is the grandson of the late Sylvester O. Smith of Port Chester. His last local address was Manursing Avenue, Rye, where he resided with his parents, George M. Gleason and the late Gladys R. Gleason.
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Name: Robert Smith Gleason
Gender: Male
Death Age: 82
Birth Date: 12 Feb 1927
Birth Place: Wappinger 's Falls, New York
Residence Place: Long Island Sound, Midland, Texas, Midland, Rye, New York, Lafayette, Louisiana, Oklahoma, City
Death Date: 29 Jun 2009
Death Place: Lafayette, Louisiana
Obituary Date: 8 Jul 2009
Parents: George Gleason; Gladys Gleason
Spouse: Martha Wallingford
Child: Michael Gleason
Tom Gleason
Martha
Susan Masten
Robert Smith Gleason
Robert Smith Gleason passed away in the early morning of June 29, 2009, in Lafayette, Louisiana. He was born to George and Gladys Gleason on February 12, 1927 in Wappinger's Falls, New York.
He grew up in Rye, New York, and spent the best days of his childhood and youth navigating his sailboat through the water of Long Island Sound. His love for the water led him to dream of a life upon the sea, so at 17 he joined the Merchant Marine, and later the United States Marine Corps.
One of the highlights of his nautical life was traveling across the Atlantic several times in a submarine. Robert left the Marines as a Captain in 1950, when he married his love and lifelong partner, Martha Wallingford. A new chapter opened for him, and he left the sea behind to pursue a career in geology and oil and gas exploration. He graduated from The University of Oklahoma in 1956 with a degree in geology, and shortly thereafter moved to Midland, Texas to take a job with Gulf Oil. He learned the drilling side of the business with Sam Jones Drilling Co., before going into business for himself in 1960.
Robert and Martha raised three children in Midland. After his children were grown, Robert and wife moved to Oklahoma, City to pursue a new oil and gas adventure, and after some highs and lows, eventually settled in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he continued to pursue his passion for oil and gas. The moved south allowed him to reacquaint himself with his first live, the sea. He bought another sailboat, and was out on the water whenever he had the opportunity. After the death of his wife, he bravely lived out the rest of his days in the care of very kind and giving people, especially Agnes Owens, of Lafayette, Louisiana. Alzheimer's Disease robbed him of his short term memory, but to the end he was able to remember the fondest times of his life, which included his youth on the water, and his young days with Martha. Robert is survived by his daughter Susan Masten and her husband Doug of Midland, his son Michael Gleason and his wife Michelle of London, England, and his son Tom Gleason of Abilene, Kansas. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Nick and Jenny Masten, Robert Gleason and his wife Marsha, Margaret Gleason, George Gleason, and the twins, Angelica and Charlotte Gleason. A private service was held in Lafayette, Louisiana.
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Published in Midland Reporter-Telegram on Jul. 8, 2009.
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