William Henry Croom Jr.

Commander William Henry Croom Jr., USN (Ret.), age 94, of Alexandria, Virginia, passed away peacefully at home at Westminster at Lake Ridge in Woodbridge, Virginia, on July 1, 2026. He was born on February 13, 1932, in Logansport, Louisiana, to William Henry Croom Sr. and Theo Smart. Commander Croom grew up in Logansport, graduated from the United States Naval Academy, and was commissioned in 1954. He was designated a naval aviator in 1955 and served aboard the USS Princeton, USS Hornet, and USS Kearsarge, and as Air Boss aboard the USS Lexington. During the Vietnam War, he served as psychological advisor to the Commander, 4th Riverine Area, in Can Tho. After retiring from the Navy, he worked for Presearch, Inc. and later founded Croom Associates in Crystal City. He retired in 1993, and he and his beloved Donna lived quietly and happily in Waynewood, Alexandria near Mount Vernon.

Will was preceded in death by the love of his life, Donna Martin, of Fargo, North Dakota. He is survived by his son William Martin Croom and his wife Linda, Pamela Rae O’Quinn and her husband George, and a grandson William Hunter Battle Croom. He is also survived by his beloved sister Theodora Holloway and her husband Vance, Allison Holloway, Stephanie and Ty Rader and their daughter Madison Kleinfelter and her husband Thomas.

Family reunions were a big deal, and he made sure to stay in touch with his sister’s family in West Liberty, Ohio. He loved the Navy and was the webmaster for the Class of 1954. His favorite place on earth was Pensacola, Florida. He vacationed there every summer to see the Blue Angels. He always said, “the Navy was the most fabulous waste of youth ever invented!”

Funeral services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.