Virginia Beach—Captain Louis Colbus, USN (RET) departed on his final deployment Sept. 28, 2012 at Sentara Leigh Hospital, Norfolk.
Captain Colbus was born in Altoona, Pa. on June 16, 1931. Upon graduation from Altoona High School in 1949, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve. In 1950, he entered the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corp (NROTC). All the billets at Pennsylvania State College were filled; he transferred to University of South Carolina and graduated in 1953. Captain Colbus returned to Penn State where he matriculated in graduate studies in Economics. He furthered his education by earning a Master of Science Degree at George Washington University in 1965.
Louis is preceded by his former wife MaryJo Rierson. In 2002, Louis married Marie Daniels at Ohef Sholom Temple, member since 1975. Marie has a daughter, Angie, who is married to Carl Hooks; they have a son, Andrew David, and a daughter, Reilly Marie. The Hooks reside in Purcellville, Va.
Captain Colbus’ survivors are his loving and beautiful wife, Marie; his son, Jonathan, his wife, Schrevia, and a son, Jacob; daughter Joanna Washburn; two children, Jenna and Jarrett; and brother Harry Saul Colbus of Baltimore, Md. Louis has a close and large family of cousins with whom he maintained contact and visited often. His friends are numerous and he considered shipmates as special family. When asked what his hobbies were, he answered, “Family, shipmates, friends, and places!”
From 1949 until 1993, Captain Colbus proudly and lovingly wore his uniformfrom seaman recruit to Convoy Commodore when he was routinely recalled to active duty from retirement to train with the merchant marine in the convoy of merchant ships in wartime. Captain Colbus served in destroyers, commanding USS McCloy, USS Jonas Ingram, and Destroyer Squadron Two. He spent five years of his career on aviation staffs embarked in Atlantic Fleet carriers. He loved the aviation community and often stated he would be reincarnated as a fighter pilot since he liked to live like one.
Funeral services were conducted at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Laskin Rd. Chapel. A graveside service followed at the adjacent Eastern Shore Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers or charitable contributions, friends, family, and shipmates are encouraged to treat a friend to dinner. Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.