James Richard Poole

Captain James. Richard Poole, USN (Ret.), age 89, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on September 26, 2024 at his home in Alexandria, Virginia under hospice care for Parkinson’s. Captain Poole was a natural leader, an outstanding naval officer, a gentleman, and a family man. He loved his naval career, Navy football, golf - and the love of his life, Virginia Ruth Gillen of Brooklyn, Michigan. They were married 43 years. Captain Poole was born on March 13, 1935 in Cleveland, Ohio to James Selby Poole and Gladys Evelyn Taylor. Captain Poole was from a well-traveled United States Navy family when he entered The Ohio State University in 1952. Captain Poole received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in 1953 and graduated with the Class of 1957. Following graduation, Captain Poole completed duty as the 15th Company Officer indoctrinating the incoming members of the Class of 1961. His first sea duty assignment was aboard the USS O’HARE (DDR-889) serving as Gunnery Officer until June 1959 when he attended Submarine School in New London, Connecticut. Upon completion of Submarine School, Captain Poole reported to USS ARGONAUT (SS-475) serving in a variety of billets leading to his qualification in submarines. He subsequently served in USS TORSK (SS-423) as Weapons Officer and Operations Officer. He next attended the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California where he received an Electrical Engineering degree. Captain Poole reported to USS FRANCIS SCOTT KEY (SSBN-657) (GOLD) and completed two POLARIS deterrent patrols before becoming the Executive Officer on the USS GRAMPUS (SS-523). In March 1970 he reported to the Commander Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet Staff (COMSUBLANT) in Norfolk, Virginia as Strategic Missile Systems Officer where he served until September 1971. In September 1973 Captain Poole served as Executive Officer in USS CAMDEN (AOE-2) for two years before assuming command of USS NORTON SOUND (AVM-1) in Port Hueneme, California where he participated in the first at-sea tests of the AEGIS Weapon System. Following command of the USS NORTON SOUND in 1975, Captain Poole reported to the AEGIS Shipbuilding Project (PMS-400), Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) in Arlington, Virginia where he served as Test and Evaluation Manager and Fleet Introduction Manager until 1978. Continuing his association with the AEGIS Program, Captain Poole next served as the NAVSEA Technical Representative for AEGIS at the RCA Engineering and Production Facility in Moorestown, New Jersey until November 1981. He completed his active-duty career as the Deputy for Operations at the United States Naval Academy in February 1985. Captain Poole continued supporting the Navy as a consultant after his retirement. He worked for Advanced Technology, Incorporated in Arlington, Virginia for three years before establishing Poole Enterprises, Incorporated. Upon retirement Captain Poole lived in the Mount Vernon area of Alexandria, Virginia. Captain Poole is survived by his wife Virginia Gillen, sister Heather Pollock and her two children, Zackary (Max) and Taylor (Lydia), first wife Doris Mae Davies and their two children, Mark Richard (Beth) and Ruth Yvonne (Dr. Richard Henshaw), three grandchildren, Mark Jr., Christopher (Alex), and Elizabeth (Christopher), and four great-grandchildren (Henry, Christopher, Charles, and James). A Remembrance Service will be held October 26, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Demaine Funeral Home in Alexandria, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choosing. The Captain answered the last call…Fair winds and following seas. Go Navy Beat Army!!