Captain Claude Levinge

Captain Claude Levinge US Navy (retired) passed away on November 12, 2025. He was born in Houston, Texas on August 6, 1922 to immigrant parents: an Irish father, Horace William Charles Levinge and a Swiss mother, Elsie Ann (Durner) Levinge. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Bernice (Mitchell) Levinge on October 17, 2000; his second wife of two years Alma (Lennard) Levinge on November 12, 2003; his daughter Jeanette (Hullum) Levinge on June 28, 2024, and his son Dennis Levinge on December 8, 2024. Captain Levinge is survived by his son Commander Charles Levinge US Navy (retired); nine grand children, and numerous great and great great grandchildren. He served in the US Navy from 1942 until he retired in 1970. He was a highly decorated fighter pilot and received the honor of "Top Gun" in 1954. Captain Levinge served his country on active duty during three wars: World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Some of the prestigious medals were Air Medals, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He received the nickname of "Grey Eagle" in his more senior years in the service having the most single piloted jet flight hours in the Navy. He was a founding member of the Ralston Memorial Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. After retiring, he became a member of First Baptist in Houston and then attended First Baptist of Woodstock after his later move to Georgia. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post 4344, the Navy Tail Hook Association, Retired Officers Association, and the Naval Reserve Association. He was also a "plank owner" of the US Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., a founding member of the US Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida and a member of the American Legion. After serving in the Navy for 28 years, Claude worked in real estate, and then formed a trucking company where Bernice and Claude enjoyed traveling across the Us. He enjoyed painting, cooking, writing short stories, telling jokes, and helping others in need. He had a strong faith in Jesus Christ as his personal savior and asked the Lord every day to help him bring happiness to others. He had a great sense of humor and delighted in making others laugh. He spent his last 10 years at The Retreat in Canton, GA where he called home, and had the honor of being awarded the Outstanding Citizen of Cherokee County in 2017. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather. He will be greatly missed, but left a memorable legacy for other patriots and his family. A visitation will be held on November 25, 2025, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm at Woodstock Funeral Home, Inc., located at 8855 Main Street, Woodstock, GA 30188. A funeral service will follow on the same day, November 25, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm at the same venue. The committal with military honors will take place on November 25, 2025, from 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm at Georgia National Cemetery, located at 1080 Scott Hudgens Dr, Canton, GA 30114.