Arthur Stewart Tribbie Jr. CDR (Ret.), passed away Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. surrounded by his family and friends. He was born in Steubenville, Ohio on April 17, 1937, to Marion Hunter and Arthur Stewart Tribbie Sr.
Art graduated from Weir High School in Weirton, and West Virginia University. He was inducted into the WVU Emeritus Society in 2009. While in high school, he played drums in the school band and was inducted into the National Honor Society. At WVU, he was active in Sigma Nu Fraternity and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration, and Master of Science from George Washington University in 1967. Immediately after graduating in 1959, he enlisted in the Navy and was sent to the Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I.
While serving the Navy in the Supply Corps for 20 years, he had the opportunity to travel to many places from the Persian Gulf, to Philadelphia, Athens, Ga., the Philippines, Argentia, Newfoundland and Virginia Beach, Va., where he retired. His young family was able to do many of these tours with him. He was proud to say he had been in 51 countries and all 50 states.
He worked for Jonathan Corporation in Norfolk, Va. after his retirement. He then was able to reconnect with to WVU sports and visited Morgantown from time to time. He moved back to Morgantown, where he became active as a mentor to his beloved Sigma Nu Fraternity. Friends took him in to the Cheat Lake Rotary Club, where he served as club president and later was chosen to be rotary district governor of 7530 in West Virginia from 2001-2002. He was a member of Suncrest United Methodist and Grace United Methodist in Cape Coral, Fla. As rotary governor, Art was instrumental in raising funds to build the Miracle Baseball Field at Mylan Park.
He became a business partner of Pleasant Day Schools 1991. He served on the Chamber of Commerce Special Projects Board and County Commissioner Property Revue committee. Art and his wife, Shirley, were charter members of the Mountaineer Boys and Girls Club. Moving to Florida in 2002, he was active with the Rotary Club of Cape Coral and actively participated as a member of the Military Officer Association of America.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley B. Ely Tribbie; his children, Arthur Scott Tribbie and wife Kathryn, of Centreville, Va., and Allison Sue Johnson and her husband, Daniel Johnson, of Williamsburg, Va.; first wife, Laura Ellen Tribbie; and his sister, Rebecca Ann Rayboun.
He is also survived by his stepsons, Charles G. Ely and wife Sharon, of Houston, J. Patrick Ely and wife Shawni, of Tampa Fla., and Britton B. Ely and his wife Jana, of Colorado Springs. Co.; and grandchildren, Philip Tribbie and Kara Tribbie, of Centreville, Va., Taryn S. Clark and husband Michael Clark, of Charlotteville, Va., Dr. Chase Johnson, of Portland, Ore., Nicholis Ely, of Charlotte, Va., Brandon Ely, currently serving in the Navy in San Diego, Jesse Ely, Samantha Ely and Shane Ely, of Tampa, Fla., Chad Ely and his wife Shelby, Philip Ely, Julianne Ely, of Houston, Texas, and Gabriel Ely, of Colorado. He has four great grandsons and one great granddaughter, several nieces and nephews. Preceded in death besides his parents is his brother-in-law, Joseph Rayboun, and nephew, David Rayboun.
Cremains will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.
In lieu of flowers, contribution should be made to Stepping Stones in support of the Miracle Field, 400 Mylan Park Lane Morgantown, WV 26501.
