Command Sergeant Major Robert Donel Severance, US Army Retired, died on 8, August 2018 at Warner Center for Caring.

He was born August 28, 1931, in Jacksonville, Florida, the third of four sons of Newitt Oscar Severance and Ruth Eighmey Root Severance.

He attended schools in Oceanway, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Andrew Jackson High, Jacksonville.

His military service began when he enlisted in the US Army in 1948. He was a Veteran of the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He served on active duty for 30 years in stateside posts in California, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and assignments outside the continental limits of the US in Alaska, Korea, Germany (2 tours for 10 � years), and Vietnam. He was detailed from the Army for duty with the Central Intelligence Agency for more than 8 � years. His last military assignment was in the Third Infantry Division, Wuerzburg, Germany, from February 1971 through June 1978, serving the last 3 years as Division Command Sergeant Major of the Third Infantry Division.

His military awards include the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals, five Army Commendation Medals, and numerous US and foreign campaign and service medals. He was awarded the German Military Efficiency Badge in Bronze, Silver, and Gold, by the Federal Republic of Germany Bundeswehr.

He retired from the US Army in 1978 and moved from Germany to Yulee where he has resided since.

Following military retirement he was employed as a Letter Carrier with the US Postal Service, Murray Hill Station, Jacksonville, Florida for more than 15 years. He retired from the US Postal Service in 1994.

As a member of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), he served as Executive Vice-President of Marne-Franconia Chapter, AUSA, 1979-1982; served as a member and Chairman of the Resolutions Committee and member of the Membership Committee. He was a lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans; a lifetime member of the Society of the Third Infantry Division; former member of the Jacksonville Genealogical Society and several other genealogical organizations.

He was predeceased by his wife, Vernicia Arlyn Cascadden Severance, in February 1980. He leaves behind two daughters, Nancy Ann Dyke and Roberta Jane Klawinski (Mark), both of Tallahassee, a son, Robert Donel Severance, Jr., of Fernandina Beach, nine grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at the Oxley-Heard Funeral Home, Fernandina Beach, Florida, from 5:00-7:00 PM Saturday, August 11, 2018.

Funeral services, with full military honors and burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, at a later date.