Lt Col Jean Albert Gruhler, Jr. USMC (Ret) passed through the Pearly Gates of Heaven in his F-4 Phantom on afterburner, Sunday, October 15 at 9 PM.

Born on August 6, 1935, to the late Lillian Ruth Watson Gruhler and Dr. Jean A. Gruhler in Atlantic City, NJ, Jean enjoyed a Jersey Shore life, swimming and sailing his "Moth" (dinghy) during his youth in Ventnor and Margate. In 1953 he graduated from Atlantic City High School where he was on the Varsity Baseball Team. Jean joined the Marine Corps for a two-year tour and subsequently attended Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. At graduation in 1961, Jean accepted a regular commission as a 2nd Lt in the USMC having completed OCS in Quantico, VA. Then on to Pensacola, FL and Kingsville, TX for Navy Flight School. He was designated a Naval Aviator in April 1963, Marine fighter/ attack pilot "Once a Marine Always a Marine."

During his career, he was assigned to five fighter/attack squadrons flying the F-4 Phantom, the A-4 Skyhawk, and the F-8 Crusader. He served two one year tours in Vietnam at Da Nang and Chu Lai flying 264 F-4 combat missions with VMFA-232 and VMFA-542. His final six months of the second tour he volunteered for assignment with the Korean Marines at Hoi An. He was Commanding Officer and Air Liaison Officer of a U.S. Marine ground unit, air and naval gunfire company (ANGLICO) attached to the Korean Marines.

His personal awards for Vietnam service are the Distinguished Flying Cross, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Bronze Star Medal with "V," Meritorious Service Medal, 21 Air Medals, Korean Marines Silver Star, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

He was a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, where he was also an instructor. He was selected for the Marine Corps Advanced Degree Program and graduated from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA with an MBA.

Jean married his high school sweetheart, Jane Elaine Salter on September 10, 1955. They had three children, Jean III, Jacqueline and Christian, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Jean and Jane (RN) both retired and have lived in Annapolis since 1980. Jean continued to sail his "Moth" boat at Severn Sailing Association for several years. Jean's automobile and mechanical skills served him well to keep his "toys" running, a 1940 Ford Coupe and a 1980 Porsche 911 Coupe.

Friends are invited to celebrate Jean's life on Saturday, October 28 from 12 PM until his funeral service begins at 1 PM at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested in LtCol Jean Gruhler's name to Catholic Charities of Baltimore, 320 Cathedral St., Baltimore, MD 21201 or the SPCA of Anne Arundel Co., 1815 Bay Ridge Ave., Annapolis, MD 21403.

Condolences may be made by clicking the tab on this page.