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Contact Info
Home Town Fancy Hill, VA
Last Address Edina, MN
Date of Passing Jul 08, 2007
Location of Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery (VA) - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Wall/Plot Coordinates 31 550
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Grover Stanley Higginbotham, 92, of Edina, MN and Naples, FL, died on July 8, 2007. He is deeply missed by his wife, Vivian; children, Chris Slaven and Ken (Ava); grandchildren; and great grandchildren and numerous other relatives and friends around the country. He was preceded in death by his brother, Willard "Pete"; father, Grover and mother, Christine.
He was a member of Sons of the American Revolution, Naples Council on World Affairs and United States Naval Academy Alumni Association. He was born in Amherst County, VA. He was Valedictorian at Buena Vista High School in Virginia. He was one of the youngest graduates at the United States Naval Academy, Class of 1935. He had a distinguished 29year career as a United States Naval officer. His first ship was the battleship USS. Arizona (BB39) from 1935 to 1938 where he served in the gunnery and engineering departments. In WW II, he served aboard the battleship USS. Texas (BB-35) and was promoted to commanding officer of the destroyer USS. Albert W. Grant (DD-649) in the Pacific where he received the Bronze Star. After the war, he attended the Army Guided Missile School in Ft. Bliss, TX and graduated from the Naval War College in Newport, RI.
Later notable career assignments included staff officer to the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon, Chief of Staff to Commander Cruiser Division Two, United States Sixth Fleet, commanding officer USS. Ponchatoula (AO-148), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the then largest oil tanker in the Navy, commanding officer Destroyer Squadron 25 "The Pineapple Fleet", Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the then largest destroyer squadron in the Navy and Chief of Staff to Commander United States Seventh Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan.
Upon retirement from the Navy as a Captain, he worked for 15 years in management for Sperry Univac at their offices in Salt Lake City, UT, Los Angeles, CA and St. Paul, MN. In Salt Lake City he earned a Master's degree in Engineering Administration from the University of Utah and was made a member of Phi Kappa Phi honorary society. While in Los Angeles, he headed the development of the onboard computer system for the S-3A carrier based anti-submarine aircraft built by Lockheed. He continued to provide consulting services to Univac after his retirement.
He and Vivian traveled extensively with destinations to China, Europe and an around-the-world cruise. Our family lost a loving husband and father, our communities lost a dear friend and our country lost an honored patriot and a wonderful ambassador. Private internment in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minnesota.
