CAPT. Russell Sydnor Crenshaw, Jr., USN. Ret., 96, of Drayden, MD died February 4, 2017 at his home with his loving wife at his side.

He was born April 5, 1920 in Richmond, VA to the late Russell Sydnor Crenshaw and Polly Robins Crenshaw.

Captain Crenshaw was born into a navy family and followed his heritage. He was in the Naval Academy class of 1941, serving in Pacific fleet destroyers from Pearl Harbor, thru Midway, the Solomons, and the Marshalls in USS MAURY (DD-401) and in USS STORMES (DD-780) at Okinawa. Taking command of USS THOMAS J. GARY (DE-326) at the age of 25 in south China, he led his five ship Escort Division on a two month cruise around the world, meeting his bride-to-be in Marseilles. Postgraduate study in Ordnance Engineering followed, during which he married Flavienne Gaubert and earned an MS (EE) from MIT. After a tour as Gunnery Officer of the Flagship in Europe and commanding USS COGSWELL (DD-651), he returned to the Navy’s Bureau of Ordnance where he was in charge of building the first TERRIER missiles and later the first TALOS systems. In 1955 he was commissioning commanding officer of USS FOREST SHERMAN (DD-931). Following a course at the NATO Defense College in Paris, he served briefly on the U.S. Army staff in Heidelberg, then became the Head of the Missile Section of the NATO International Staff in Paris, later transferring to the U.S. Embassy to NATO. Returning to Washington in 1960 for duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, he headed the Surface Warfare branch of the Development Division. In 1963, he took command of USS SPRINGFIELD (CLG-7), flagship of the 6th. Fleet in the Mediterranean. In 1964, returning to Washington, he joined the staff of the Director of Defense Research & Engineering in the Pentagon, working principally on NATO cooperative programs.

Retiring from the Navy in 1967 he established The Crenshaw Company to focus principally on international technology transfer in naval systems. This led to many years of international travel with clients and customers in Europe and the Far East as well as in the United States.

Long a resident of Alexandria, VA, he and his beloved wife designed and built their dream house at Pagan Point on the St. Mary’s river across from the sire of the original settlement in the colony and moved there in 1987 to enjoy the warm friendships, the active sailing programs, and relaxed rural life of southern Maryland.

Captain Crenshaw was the author of “Naval Ship handling,” a well-known professional text, and the “South Pacific Destroyer,” both Published by the Naval Institute and “The Battle of Tassafaronga,” published by Nautical & Aviation Publishing Company. His decorations include 13 battle stars on his Pacific ribbon, a Presidential Unit Citation for service in MAURY, a Silver Star, and two Legion of Merit awards. He was a member of the Army Navy Club, the Army Navy Club, the New York Yacht Club, and the St. Mary’s River Yacht Club.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 69 wonderful years, Flavienne G. Crenshaw and his step-grandson, Barry A. Crenshaw. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his siblings, William Orbin Crenshaw, Francis Nelson Crenshaw, Alice Beauchamp Crenshaw Luhring and Sally Berkeley Crenshaw Southerland.

A Graveside Service will be held at the United States Naval Academy at a later date.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A.

Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.