Mr. Robert "Bob" Russell Greenland

Mr. Robert (Bob) Russell Greenland, 90 of Salisbury died on July 28, 2016. He had been in declining health for the last three weeks. Mr. Greenland was born on August 17, 1925 in Bellwood, Pennsylvania to the late Robert Brooks and Irene Love Greenland. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of sixty years, Mary Ann Sturkey Greenland and by a brother, William (Bill) Wilson Greenland of Salisbury. Mr. Greenland graduated from Bellwood-Antis High School, Bellwood, PA in 1943 and following in the footsteps of his father, he promptly enlisted in the U. S. Army where he served in the Air Corps with the 50th Troop Carrier Squadron, 314th Troop Carrier Group. After receiving his initial training at Keesler Field, MS, Mr. Greenland participated in numerous training programs throughout the country in route to becoming a certified radar technician and going overseas to install the new “GEE sets” technology on C-47 aircraft – British radar position finding devices introduced to World War II in 1944. Mr. Greenland served at Saltby Field, Leicestershire, England; Poix, France; and Bod Soden, Frankfurt, Germany. After WWII, Mr. Greenland enrolled at Catawba College in 1946 and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1949. With more eligibility remaining with his G.I. bill funding, Mr. Greenland returned to Pennsylvania and completed a Master of Arts Degree in English at Pennsylvania State University. In 1950, Mr. Greenland returned to his beloved North Carolina and following in the footsteps of his mother, who was a teacher, he immediately went to work with the Salisbury City Schools where his beginning primary role was to serve as an English teacher. Mr. Greenland also taught French and later completed additional graduate studies to fill a new requirement to be a Guidance Counselor at Boyden/Salisbury High School. Mr. Greenland met and married his “sweetheart”, Mary Ann Sturkey on December 19, 1954. They met while singing together in the choir at First Methodist Church – a great American story! Shortly thereafter, they started a family together in Salisbury. After spending 40 years as a devoted and dedicated educator, Mr. Greenland retired in 1990. He was member of the Men’s Golden Rule Sunday School Class, First United Methodist Church, Salisbury. As an avid history buff, he was a member of the North Carolina Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution and he was also a proud, 47-year member of Harold B. Jarrett Post #342, American Legion, Salisbury. Mr. Greenland’s military decorations include the American Campaign Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (Bronze Star in lieu of 2nd award); and World War II Victory Medal. His squadron received the Presidential Unit Citation. In sum, Mr. Greenland dearly loved his family, he loved his church, he loved his friends, and he loved his students. Nothing gave him more pleasure nor served to uplift him more on a daily basis than to see and talk to his former students. Mr. Greenland is survived by three sisters-in-law, Mrs. Eloise Sturkey of Jupiter, FL; Mrs. Margaret Chandler of Oak Ridge, TN; and Mrs. Bonnie Sturkey of Charlotte, NC; three sons, Robert Russell (Rusty) Greenland of San Antonio, TX; Benjamin Lawrence Greenland (Anita)of Greensboro, NC; and Bruce Edward Greenland of Woodbridge, VA; a niece, Anne Greenland Kennedy of Winston-Salem, NC; a nephew, John Harvey Greenland of China Grove, NC; and two wonderful grandchildren, Rachel Ann Greenland and Joseph Robert Greenland of Greensboro, NC. The family would like to express a profound debt of heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all of the dedicated professionals on Mr. Greenland’s healthcare team within the Reminiscence Care Unit at Brighton Gardens of Greensboro, NC and Hospice of the Piedmont. Visitation: The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 on Thursday, 4 August 2016 at Summersett Funeral Home in Salisbury, NC. Service: A funeral service will be held at 11:00 on Friday, 5 August 2016 at First United Methodist Church, Salisbury, NC conducted by the Rev. Dr. Mark Conforti and the Rev. Stephen Haines. Burial will follow in Chestnut Hill Cemetery with Military Honors by the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, First United Methodist Church, Attn: New Building Fund, 217 S. Church St., Salisbury, NC 28144. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Greenland family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Mr. Robert "Bob" Russell Greenland

August 17, 1925 - July 28, 2016