Commander Robert Edward Youngblood, USN (Ret.)

Robert Edward Youngblood, 83, of Tallahassee, FL, passed away on July 15, 2025. Edward was born on December 21, 1941, in Rome, Georgia, to the late Edward Turner and Mildred (nee Johnston) Youngblood. He played baseball and football in his youth, in addition to playing clarinet in the marching band in high school before graduating from East Rome High School in 1959.

While attending Shorter College, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve and transferred to Georgia Tech. He later accepted an offer to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) and flight training at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola. In December 1963, he was commissioned an Ensign and designated as a Naval Flight Officer. Following training as a navigator and mission commander on the C-130 Hercules, he completed two tours of service in Vietnam. In 1967, he returned to NAS Pensacola as an OCS Instructor and while there completed a bachelor’s degree in business management at the University of West Florida. In 1971, he completed training for the P-3 Orion and was assigned to VP-16.

In October 1972, Edward married the love of his life, Ann Marie Anderson in Norfolk, Virginia, and began their 52-plus years together. They eventually settled in Jacksonville, Florida, where he transferred to Naval Reserves and began his career as a Welfare & Medicaid Fraud Investigator with the Auditor General and, later, Attorney General of Florida.

In 1977, Edward moved the family to Tallahassee. Over the many years there, he was involved with youth programs at First Baptist Church, Leon County Sheriff Reserves, played racquet ball and golf, fished and enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren. He retired from the US Navy in 1985 and the State of Florida in 2003. He recently discovered a passion for jewelry-making and many were lucky to be the recipient of his “bling,” including staff at Florida Cancer Specialists, who would greet him excitedly upon his weekly arrivals.

In addition to his wife Ann, Edward is survived by his three children: Michael and wife Shari of Tallahassee; David of North Carolina; and Lisa Rubes of Tallahassee and four grandchildren: Gregory Youngblood, Allison Whittier, Alex Rubes and Nicholas Youngblood. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Turner and Mildred, and his brother, Tommy Youngblood.

A celebration of life for Edward will be held Friday, August 15, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, 1737 Riggins Road, Tallahassee, Florida, 32308. An inurnment with military honors will follow at 12:00 PM at Tallahassee National Cemetery, 5015 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, Florida, 32311.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.