LCDR Clarence Gilman-USN

Clarence R. Gilman, Charlie, LT.COMMANDER-US Navy-Retired was born in Bingham, ME to Alma and Forrest Gilman on April 9, 1921. His sister Rebecca, was born 2 years later.He attended the local schools, through High school and then attended the University of Maine, Orono, Class of 1943. He belonged to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He majored in Forestry.Charlie married Doris Stedman in Corpus Christi, TX in 1944. They had a daughter, Julie, born in August, 1960. Julie then gave him the joy of his only granddaughter, Leyla in March, 2002.He enlisted in the Navy, training at Columbia University in New York City to become an Officer. He served on active duty from April 1943 until February 1946 as LCDR on the Minesweeper Auk. He attendened Mine Warfare training in Yorktown, VA and then headed to the Meditteranian for active duty. He served in the Korean War.From September 1950 until November 1951 he served with the Amphibious branch Naval Intelligence.He was in the Naval Reserve, where he retired fully in June of 1969.Between active duty times, Charlie joined the United States Geological Survey as an engineering aid. He served in the Atlantic Region in Field Surveys and the Branch of Cartography. Charlie served in various capacities in the Office of Research and Technical Standards, Branch of Research and Design, and in the National Atlas Project. Charlie retired in July 1976 as the Chief, Graphic Applications Group. He was based in the Washington, DC area.Through out his life, Charlie devoted much of his time camping, fishing and canoeing the back woods of Maine. He also spent many hours volunteering with the Appalachian Trail Club of Maine, and then the Board of the Sentier International des Appalaches,International Appalachian Traill Commitee, which extended the Appalachian Trail from Mt. Katahden in Maine into Canada.. He designed the lean-to shelters, of which many are being built to this day.Charlie developed Lewy Body disease, which is a form of Dementia, complicated by Parkinsonian effects. He fought that for about 10 years, which is a longer time than is usually the prognosis. His family attributes that to his being from Maine, where they are a strong and hardy breed.His family moved to the Asheville, NC area in June of 2007, where he was cared for by his daughter Julie, until Hospice became involved. He went into the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center in early November, and died the morning of November 17, 2007. He is survived by his wife, daughter, granddaughter and sister.Graveside services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on January 22, 2008 at 1 PM.