Commander Robert Morris Israel, U. S. Navy (Retired), 89, died Sunday, 2 April 2000 at New Bern Health Care Center in New Bern. CDR. Israel was a veteran pilot of World War II having served in the Asiatic Pacific and American Campaigns. Born in Asheville, NC on 23 March 1911 to Zenus and Zora Greene Israel, he enlisted in the United States Navy on 4 October 1929. He married Lela Jane Nanney, a native of Black Mountain, on 10 October 1932.
He was a proud member of the “Silver Eagles” having earned his wings as an enlisted naval aviation pilot in 1937. Lela arrived at the Naval Air Station Kaneohe, Hawaii on 4 Dec 1941 to join her husband three days before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, including NAS Kaneohe. After having accumulated 12,599 flight hours during 28 years of service, he retired on 1 May 1957 to his 700 acre farm in Old Fort, NC and raised Black Angus cattle until 1968, when he personally built a second home on the Florida Keys near Key West and enjoyed fishing. In 1978 he moved to Biloxi MS and in 1983 retired again to the farm in Old Fort. In 1986 he moved to New Bern, NC to be near Lela’s niece Rebecca Plemmons Daniels and her family in their retirement. “Uncle Morris” was a Boy Scout leader, member and President of the Old Fort Rotary Club, hospital volunteer, active member of his church, Ebenezer United Methodist and a “very special uncle” to many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews who will fondly remember him.
He is survived by his wife, Lela, of Berne Village, New Bern; two brothers, Jerry Israel and wife Ann of Titusville, FL and Paul Israel and wife, Hellen of Biloxi, MS, and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Visitation will be at Pollack-Wells & Best Funeral Home 7:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, 5 April. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, 6 April at the Riverdale United Methodist Church, Highway 70E, where he is a member. Reverend William Sherman officiating. Services will also be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, 8 April at the Miller Funeral Home in Black Mountain, NC followed by burial in the Nanney Family Cemetery on Tabernacle Road in Black Mountain, NC. Reverend H. D. Houck officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Riverdale United Methodist Church PO Box 3155 New Bern, NC or Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church Candler, NC or the Baptist Children’s Home, Canton, NC.

The News Bulletin of McDowell County, Wednesday April 5, 2000 Volume 6 #14