Bernard M. “Jerry” Fitzgerald, 83, died Dec. 20, 2008, at Island Hospital, Anacortes, following a lengthy illness. He was born June 6, 1925, in Cambridge, Mass., to Bernard and Gwendolyn (Nicoll) Fitzgerald, the oldest of six boys. Jerry quit school during his senior year and lied about his age to enlist. He entered the U.S. Navy one month before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Jerry was quickly pressed into service, serving as an aviation ordnanceman. He soon was trained as an enlisted pilot in the U.S. Navy. He served in the Pacific Theater during World War II mainly as a bow gunner on escort missions. He was married to the former Dorothy E. Pettit in Miami, Fla., on April 5, 1944.

Jerry remained on active duty through the Korean War. Enlisted pilots were removed from duty and Jerry began training officers for aerial combat service. On June 25, 1957, he was commissioned as a naval officer. In 1968, he was transferred to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. He served in Vietnam with riverboats in the Mekong Delta and served a total of 16 years at sea. Jerry retired from the U.S. Navy as a commander on Feb. 1, 1972.

He continued his love of learning by receiving his AA at Skagit Valley College and then his bachelor of arts in sociology from Western Washington University, graduating magna cum laude and completed two years toward his master’s. Jerry also worked as a school bus driver for the Oak Harbor School District for eight years following his military retirement.

Jerry and Dorothy loved to travel and were able to travel the world. Dorothy became ill and Jerry was her primary caregiver before her death in 1994. He married the former Jean (Vandersloot) Railsback on March 21, 1999. Jerry and Jean continued traveling. Jerry had visited over 130 countries and sailed around the world many times in his lifetime.

Jerry was a member of the Military Officers Retirement Association, the Whidbey Golf and Country Club, the Oak Harbor Yacht Club and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church of Oak Harbor. He and Jean also enjoyed ballroom dancing.

Jerry is survived by his wife Jean at the family home and by five children: his son Terry Kevin Fitzgerald (Julia) of Ferndale, his daughter Doreen Elizabeth Milward (Douglas) of Olympia, William Railsback (Laura) of Palm Desert, Calif., Donald Railsback of Houston, and Rich Railsback (Lorraine) of Chehalis; and one grandson, Michael Fitzgerald of Ferndale. Two brothers, Donald Fitzgerald of Florida and Walter Fitzgerald of Massachusetts, also survive.

Funeral services for Jerry Fitzgerald will be held on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 1 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church with Bishop Sanford Hampton officiating. Military honors will follow under the auspices of the NAS Whidbey Island Honor Guard. Burial will be held at Maple Leaf Cemetery.

Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.