Fred William Geiger Jr.

Chief Warrant Officer Fred William Geiger Jr., USN (Ret.), passed away peacefully at home on August 20, 2026. He was born on November 7, 1943, in Williston, Florida.

He proudly served his country in the United States Navy for 30 years. He enlisted in February 1962 and attended boot camp at U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois.

His early sea duty assignments included service aboard the USS Rigel (AF-58), a Rigel-class stores ship, and the destroyer USS George K. Mackenzie (DD-836), which at the time completed continuous combat operations off the coast of Vietnam. While aboard the Mackenzie, Warrant Officer Geiger trained as a rescue diver with the U.S. Navy's Recovery Force supporting NASA's Project Gemini. His duties included readiness drills and operational support for spacecraft splashdowns and recovery operations.

In 1967, Fred was assigned to Public Works at Naval Air Station Bermuda, where he met and married his true love, Leslie May Fisher. After completing that tour, he attended Equipment Operator School B at Port Hueneme, California. He was subsequently assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 (NMCB-74) in Gulfport, Mississippi, where he completed a tour in Da Nang, Vietnam, followed by a second Vietnam tour with CB Team 7404.

After returning stateside, Fred was assigned to Construction Battalion Unit 414 at Naval Station New London, Connecticut. In 1973, he was assigned to Public Works at Naval Air Facility Sigonella, Sicily. Following that tour, he returned to the Naval Construction Center in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Fred subsequently joined NMCB-133, Gulfport, Mississippi, deploying to Diego Garcia, Palau, and Rota, Spain. His other duty stations included Saufley Field in Pensacola, Florida, and Naval Air Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he served first as Maintenance Officer and later as Utilities Officer. His final duty assignment was as Public Works Officer at Saufley Field, Florida.

During his distinguished naval career, Fred received numerous awards and decorations, including the Defense Service Medal (Second Award), Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (Gold Star in lieu of Third Award), Navy Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (Second Award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Battle “E” (Second Award), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (Silver Star in lieu of Fifth Award), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation, .45 Caliber Marksman Ribbon, M-16 Marksman Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal (Fifth Award).

Fred retired from active duty in 1992 after 30 years of honorable service.

Following his military retirement, he continued serving the community through his work with the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. He served as a liaison during construction of the Giant Screen Theater and later became Manager of Revenue Generators, overseeing the Giant Screen Theater, Flight Deck Store, and Flight Simulators. He retired from the Foundation in 2018.

Fred was preceded in death by his father, Fred W. Geiger Sr.; his mother, Alma A. Buschman; and his grandson, Jimmy W. Aplin, Jr.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Leslie; his son, Adam Geiger (Tree); his daughter, Shannon Geiger Jones (Donny); grandchildren McKenzie Aplin, Addison Geiger, Emily Geiger, Adam Geiger II, Trenton Doll (Anne-Marie), Courtney Blanton (Skylar), and Cody Graves; great-grandchildren Miya Baxter, Lilly Lamarr, Jimmy Lopez, Riley Doll, Camden Blanton, and Kaylie Blanton; sisters Betty Grant, Carolyn McLeod, and Emily Williams (Butch); sister-in-law Madelin Reape (Shaun); brother-in-law Mark Fisher (Christy) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Fred will be remembered for his devotion to his country, his dedication to his family, and the many years he spent serving others. His legacy of service, commitment, and love will live on through the family and friends who were fortunate enough to know him.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gentiva Hospice, 7282 Plantation Rd., Ste. 302, Pensacola, FL 32504.