Carl Berry

Chief Petty Officer Retired Carl Berry, 81, of Gainesville, Georgia, passed on March 22, 2021, while a patient in Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Enlisting in the United States Navy at the age of 17 in 1957, Mr. Berry achieved the rank of Chief Petty officer and was a Naval instructor in Advanced Electronics. His first ship was the USS Stribling (DD-867), a Gearing-class destroyer, and his last was the USS George Washington Carver (SSBN-656), a Benjamin Franklin class fleet ballistic missile submarine, and retired in 1977.

The Monroe, Louisiana native admirably served his country for 20 years in the United States Navy, and he worked extensively in Naval Oceanographic Research. Although he served in many capacities in the Navy, his true love was serving on United States Nuclear Submarines, having served on many surface ships and submarines in foreign and domestic ports. His service took him to numerous Duty Stations such as:

• USS Stribling (DD 867) - home ported in Norfolk Virginia operating extensively with 6^th fleet in the Mediterranean and Middle East
• USS Conway (DDE 507)
• U.S. Naval Facility – Grand Turk, British West Indies
• U.S. Naval Facility – Adak, Alaska
• Fleet Sonar School – Key West, Florida (Instructor for Advanced Electronics)
• USS Rowan (DD 782) – Home ported in Yokosuka, Japan spending most of his service in a Viet Nam combat zone
• USS Georg Washington Carver (SSB 656) – Home ported in Rota, Spain, making five nuclear deterrent patrols
• Navy Submarine Base – New London, Connecticut (Instructor for Submarine Sound and Vibration Analysis)

Mr. Berry was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Fourth Award Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia with one silver star, and the National Defense Service Medal.

Mr. Berry was born in Texarkana, Arkansas on September 16, 1939, to Alvin Owsley and Bertha Celeste Berry. He was primarily raised in Monroe, Louisiana.  Mr. Berry was a Graduate of Neville High School in Monroe, Louisiana and held an Associates degree in electronics from Key West Community College in Key West, Florida. After joining the Navy at age 17, he spent 20 years honorably serving his country, and served two tours in Vietnam. Carl achieved the rank of Chief Sonar Technician and Chief Petty Officer, which is considered the backbone of the Navy.

Mr. Berry was proud to be a retiree of the United States Navy after twenty years of service. After retirement from the Navy, he worked and retired as a rural letter carrier for the United States Postal Service. Mr. Berry was also an Amateur Ham Radio Operator holding an Amateur Extra License. This class of license conveys all available United States Amateur Radio operating privileges on all bands and all modes. As the highest license achievable, earning this is extremely difficult as it requires passing a thorough 50 question examination. Extra class licensees must also have passed all previous license class written examinations. He was a member of North Monroe Baptist Church for 26 years, and for the past 8 years he was a member of First Baptist Cumming in Cumming, Georgia where he was a member of the Salt and Shaker Sunday School class.

Mr. Berry is preceded in death by his parents, Alvin Owsley Berry and Bertha Celeste Melton Berry and his siblings, Lois Virginia Berry Wilkinson, Bobbie Ellen Berry Brantley, Rhea Alvin Berry and Charles Lee Berry.

In 1979, Mr. Berry met the love of his life, Jean, blending two families together as one. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 41 years, Jean Berry, of Gainesville, Georgia; one son, Robert Gerald (Gerry) Rogers, Jr, Suwanee, Georgia (Anna); two daughters Patricia Lynn Boswell, Valley View, Texas (Jason); Sarah Michelle Lipe, Carthage, Mississippi (Rick); six grandchildren, Mallory, Ainsley, Madyson, Zachary, Richard, and Danny; three great grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.

Mr. Berry was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His love was unconditional and his standards were unwavering. To know Carl was to know his dry wit and subtle humor.

A memorial service will be held Friday, March 26, at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 1597 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, Georgia 30040. The following have been requested to serve as honorary pallbearers, the men of the “Salt and Shaker” Bible Study Class, Mr. Clifford Edward (Butch) Muir, Mr. Kenneth Slocum, Jr., Mr. Brian Norwood Slocum, Mr. Jason Boswell, Mr. Zachary Paul Kilpatrick, and Mr. Brad Tynes.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church Children’s Building Fund or the V Foundation for cancer research.

Ingram Funeral Home and Crematory, 210 Ingram Avenue, Cumming, Georgia 30040 is in charge of arrangements. You may express condolences at www.ingramfuneralhome.com