Lonnie Manual Massey
Suffolk, VA
11.23.1918 - 03.23.2019
Birthplace: Delta Co. Texas
Served in the : Marines

Lonnie M. Massey went to be with the Lord on March 23, 2019. He was born in November of 1918, in Delta County, Texas, the oldest of Mann and Leeola Massey’s three children. He is predeceased by his wife of 47 years Iris C. Massey He graduated from Cooper High School in 1937 and was a Retired U.S. Marine Corps Capt. serving his country in both WWII and Korea where he was awarded the Bronze Star with oak leaf clusters for “his vital work maintaining constant and uninterrupted radio communications between all Marine companies and serving as an inspiration to his fellow platoon members; during the battle of the Chosin Reservoir Massey served on the USS Northampton heavy cruiser during World War II, where he used his skills in Morse code, radio theory and electronics. He and his crewmates served with the III Marine Amphibious Corps at the battles of Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Okinawa, Kwajalein, Saipan and Guam. After his service he worked civil service in Radio Communications and cryptography. He was involved in top-secret operations, such as when he was selected to be a radio relay platoon instructor and helped train the original Navajo Code Talkers.
He traveled the US and world working on US Naval Transmitter bases. Lonnie enjoyed traveling, some of his favorites places worldwide were in Australia and southern Spain, where the people were wonderful, honest and helpful. His travels eventually led him to his late wife, Iris, whom he met in Northern Ireland.
He is survived by his sons Robert M. Massey and wife Catherine, of Wake Forrest, NC and Julian M Massey of Homer, AK; and granddaughters Meredith, Olivia, and Caroline.

A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 2 PM by Rev. Rev. Julie Anna Sterling at Suffolk Presbyterian Church, 410 North Broad Street, Suffolk. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington, Suffolk is serving the family.

Condolences may be registered at RWBakerFH.com.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Semper Fi Fund at https://semperfifund.org/donate/

Service Start Time: Saturday, March 30, 2019 - 02:00pm Suffolk Presbyterian Church 410 N. Broad Street Suffolk, VA 23434 United States
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Charities Semper Fi Fund 825 College Blvd Suite 102, PMB 609 Oceanside, CA 92057 United States
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