Arthur Calvin Derrick

Arthur C. Derrick, Captain, USN Ret, 91, passed away August 30, 2016. He was born in Inglewood, CA and grew up in Bloomfield, NJ, graduating from Bloomfield HS 1943. He was a member of the New Jersey State Championship football team, lettered in track & field, was voted Most Likely to Succeed and Most Ambitious. Art joined the Navy, affording him the opportunity to attend MIT and later earn a BS in Civil Engineering from Newark College of Engineering.

He married Regina “Jeanna” Berry in December 1948. He received his Navy Wings in 1950, and reported to VF-111, Sundowners, with whom he flew in the Korean War and received a Purple Heart. Art joined VF-113, Stingers, in1952 and was selected to attend Fleet Air Gunnery Unit (forerunner to Top Gun). In 1954 he attended the Naval Post-Graduate School in Monterey receiving a BS in Aeronautical Engineering. He enrolled at Stevens Institute of Technology and received a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering. He was selected for Sigma Xi, honorary research and scientific fraternity. He was in VF-174, Hellrazors, at NAS Cecil Field in Jacksonville, FL, where he trained all pilots in the Navy F8U Crusader jet. He was part of VF-62, Boomerangs, and Operations Officer. Art was selected for US Naval Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River, at which time he also took up the game he loved most, tennis. He was stationed at NAS Oceana Master Jet Base and served as the Commanding Officer of VF-11 World Famous Red Rippers in 1966-67, flying the F-4 Phantom in Vietnam. He served at the Pentagon before returning to Patuxent River at NAILSC. He finished his Naval career as the CO of NAF Warminster in 1975 and moved back to Virginia Beach. He enjoyed retirement there, then living in CA, NV, OR and back to VB, VA. Art was a great dad, generous grandfather, loyal friend, excellent athlete, keen intellect, decorated veteran, outstanding pilot, brilliant engineer, tennis aficionado, lover of big band & classical music, fitness nut, avid sports fan, dedicated swimmer, unorthodox golfer, chess and scrabble guru, duplicate bridge director, poker player, self-taught pianist, good dancer, superior mathematician, clever humorist, and master of games (physical and intellectual).

He is survived by daughters Diane Anderson (Keith), Kathy Craig (Jeff), Carolyn Wood (Brett), and Kim Midgett (Preston), and son Jon Arthur Derrick (Margaret); his 11 grandchildren: Jeanna Craig, Emily Frase, Madison and Dylan Wood, Trey and Tara Midgett; Tad, David, Greyson, Sarah, and Isabelle Derrick; and brother-in-law Bud Liley. He was predeceased by his mother, Frances Young Derrick, his wife and mother of his children Regina Berry Derrick, his sister Shirley Derrick Liley, and his wife Adria Derrick.

The family would like to thank the staff of First Colonial Inn, aides Shannon & Kim, staff of Kings Grant House, Interim Hospice Care, and the many friends who have offered love and support to Art and to the family.

A memorial tribute with military honors and the party he requested will be held on Friday, October 7 at 5:30pm at the Military Aviation Museum, 1341 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23457.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made for JT’s Camp Grom for wounded warriors and families with disabilities. Checks may be made payable to Virginia Gentlemen Foundation, 2420 Atlantic Ave, Suite 201, VB, VA 23451. Friends may offer condolences at www.mem.com