Robert Lee McCanless II

Robert Lee McCanless, II, of China Grove died Tuesday night, October 20, 2026, after several years of declining health - gravely ill for the past several weeks. He was the son of the late Robert Lee McCanless, Sr of Salisbury, NC and Carolyn Cherry of Philadelphia, PA. He was born June 14, 1936, and grew up on Mitchell Avenue in Salisbury - educated at Sacred Heart Catholic School, Salisbury through the eighth grade and Boyden High School, graduating class of 1953.

He served his country proudly for over twenty-five years in both the United States Coast Guard and later the Coast Guard Reserves - service during the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War. He served in the USCG Reserve Center in Greensboro, NC, until that unit was decommissioned in late 1980. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer Four, with awards such as the Silver Lifesaving award, Presidential Unit Citation, Coast Guard Commendation medal, Coast Guard Achievement medal, Combat action ribbon, Coast Guard Good Conduct medal and various unit and campaign awards, from Korean and Vietnam wars.

Robert attended the University of Maryland and East Carolina University at night while serving on active-duty Coast Guard in the late 1950s and then attended and graduated Catawba College in Salisbury, NC with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and years later earned his MBA from Pfeiffer University. He worked for the United States Secret Service for several years following the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963 until 1966. He worked for years as the CFO for China Grove Cotton Mills and then for Iredell Health System Outpatient Rehab, in Statesville, until he retired in 2002. Avid supporter for the Boy Scouts of America in Rowan County and Troop 301 with Mt. Zion United Church of Christ, Landis as well as the American Legion Post 146 in Landis, NC.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Janet P. McCanless, who passed away in November 2025, both his parents (Father in 1984) and (Mother in 2009) as well as a sister, Mrs. Carol McCanless Beaver of Salisbury in 2012. He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Harriette McCanless Henderson of Kernersville, NC; and children Mr. Robert E. L. McCanless (Goldsboro, NC), Mr. Charles McCanless & family (Gastonia, NC) and Mrs. Carol McCanless Brady & family (China Grove), 9 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Robert was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC for many years.

The family will receive friends Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM at Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home.

The funeral service will begin at 12:00 PM in the Northcrest Chapel of the funeral Home with Rev. William “Bill” Ketchie officiating. Burial will follow at Salisbury National Cemetery, Salisbury, NC.

Word of comfort and memories may be shared at www.linn-honeycutt.com.

Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home is honored to be serving the McCanless.