Donald Poe - Obituary

ONALD T. POE, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.) Donald Trisler Poe, a 12-year resident of Ginger Cove in Annapolis, MD and previously of Haymarket, VA for 30 years, died on Sunday, January 25, 2015 at Anne Arundel Medical Center after a short illness. Born April 15, 1922 in Oran, MO, to the late Lloyd Elmore and Dixie Trisler Poe, Donald grew up in Southern Missouri. Admiral Poe spent 1 year at S.E. Missouri State College (now University) prior to entering the United States Naval Academy as part of the Class of 1945. He also attended and graduated from the Naval Post Graduate School, the Armed Forces Staff College and George Washington University. Admiral Poe was assigned to a light cruiser and joined the ship in the Western Pacific in the late summer for the last year of the war. He fought the battles through the Philippines and ended in Japan for the finale. Admiral Poe's career sea duty was in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, West Coast, and Western Pacific. An of his experience afloat was in destroyers and cruisers except for one tour on the staff of the battleship division during the Korean War. Virtually all of his shore duty was in communications, culminating as Director, Naval Communications. He had two tours at the National War College and received two Legions of Merit. After retirement from the Navy, Admiral Poe accepted a position with the BDM Corporation, a professional services firm that was a key organization in Defense Department planning. Following this, Admiral Poe organized the Prince William (Virginia) Volunteer Center and served as a full time volunteer for 9 years as its Director and Board Chairman. This resulted in a major emphasis in volunteering in the County. He also served on the Boards of several human services agencies. Admiral Poe has been active at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Annapolis and on the Vestry for five terms. He enjoyed history, golf, bridge, reading, people, giving tours, good food and dining out. He will be remembered as a real people person, who loved humanity and cared deeply for others. Admiral Poe was a true gentleman who always maintained many strong friendships. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Helen on August 18, 2014; a daughter, Susan Porter in 2009; two brothers, William Stanley and Steven Randall Poe; and his first wife, Kirby Marie Chapin. Admiral Poe is survived by a daughter Jeri Trentin of Centreville, VA; three grandchildren, David and Amy Trentin and Colin Porter; and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 11:30am on Thursday, February 12 at Friendship Hall at Ginger Cove, 4000 River Crescent Dr., Annapolis, MD. (Due to limited parking, please park on Riva Trace Parkway and shuttle bus will pick you up by your car and take you to the main entrance). Inurnment will be at 2pm at the U.S. Naval Academy Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Hwy., Pasadena, MD 21122 or the American Cancer Society, 1041 Route 3 N, Bldg. A, Gambrills, MD 21054.