Alfred Lawrence Booth, Colonel U.S. Marine Corps and Mathematics Professor and Registrar at Mary Baldwin College died Aug. 6, 2015 in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Col. Booth passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home, according to Deborah Booth Kyle, his younger daughter. Surrounded by family and friends, Col. Booth recently celebrated his 100th birthday. His beloved wife of 70 years, Elizabeth James Booth, passed away in 2010.
Colonel Booth graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1938 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He joined the sixth defense battalion and was ordered to Hawaii and then the reef-encircled islands of Midway in 1941, mere weeks before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and Midway on Dec. 7. Four days passed without any communication between Col. Booth and his wife until, finally, he was able to send word by cable.
Col. Booth held numerous assignments, including a faculty position at the Naval Academy, the NATO Defense College Paris, France, and Chief of Staff of the Second Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1964, with decorations including the bronze star with combat V and the Navy commendation medal.
He earned a master’s degree from Duke University in 1965 and worked at Mary Baldwin College, retiring after 19 years with faculty emeritus status. Right up until his passing, Col. Booth possessed a keen mind and sharp wit. The former math professor had an affinity for numbers. He was sentimental too. With fondness, he recently recalled the 179 boxes that he packed with his wife when they left their Staunton home of 41 years for Hilton Head in 2006.
The News Leader (Staunton, VA)
14 August 2015
Colonel Booth graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1938 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He joined the sixth defense battalion and was ordered to Hawaii and then the reef-encircled islands of Midway in 1941, mere weeks before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and Midway on Dec. 7. Four days passed without any communication between Col. Booth and his wife until, finally, he was able to send word by cable.
Col. Booth held numerous assignments, including a faculty position at the Naval Academy, the NATO Defense College Paris, France, and Chief of Staff of the Second Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1964, with decorations including the bronze star with combat V and the Navy commendation medal.
He earned a master’s degree from Duke University in 1965 and worked at Mary Baldwin College, retiring after 19 years with faculty emeritus status. Right up until his passing, Col. Booth possessed a keen mind and sharp wit. The former math professor had an affinity for numbers. He was sentimental too. With fondness, he recently recalled the 179 boxes that he packed with his wife when they left their Staunton home of 41 years for Hilton Head in 2006.
The News Leader (Staunton, VA)
14 August 2015
Alfred Lawrence Booth, Colonel U.S. Marine Corps and Mathematics Professor and Registrar at Mary Baldwin College died Aug. 6, 2015 in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Col. Booth passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home, according to Deborah Booth Kyle, his younger daughter. Surrounded by family and friends, Col. Booth recently celebrated his 100th birthday. His beloved wife of 70 years, Elizabeth James Booth, passed away in 2010.
Colonel Booth graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1938 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He joined the sixth defense battalion and was ordered to Hawaii and then the reef-encircled islands of Midway in 1941, mere weeks before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and Midway on Dec. 7. Four days passed without any communication between Col. Booth and his wife until, finally, he was able to send word by cable.
Col. Booth held numerous assignments, including a faculty position at the Naval Academy, the NATO Defense College Paris, France, and Chief of Staff of the Second Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1964, with decorations including the bronze star with combat V and the Navy commendation medal.
He earned a master’s degree from Duke University in 1965 and worked at Mary Baldwin College, retiring after 19 years with faculty emeritus status. Right up until his passing, Col. Booth possessed a keen mind and sharp wit. The former math professor had an affinity for numbers. He was sentimental too. With fondness, he recently recalled the 179 boxes that he packed with his wife when they left their Staunton home of 41 years for Hilton Head in 2006.
The News Leader (Staunton, VA)
14 August 2015
Colonel Booth graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1938 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He joined the sixth defense battalion and was ordered to Hawaii and then the reef-encircled islands of Midway in 1941, mere weeks before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and Midway on Dec. 7. Four days passed without any communication between Col. Booth and his wife until, finally, he was able to send word by cable.
Col. Booth held numerous assignments, including a faculty position at the Naval Academy, the NATO Defense College Paris, France, and Chief of Staff of the Second Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1964, with decorations including the bronze star with combat V and the Navy commendation medal.
He earned a master’s degree from Duke University in 1965 and worked at Mary Baldwin College, retiring after 19 years with faculty emeritus status. Right up until his passing, Col. Booth possessed a keen mind and sharp wit. The former math professor had an affinity for numbers. He was sentimental too. With fondness, he recently recalled the 179 boxes that he packed with his wife when they left their Staunton home of 41 years for Hilton Head in 2006.
The News Leader (Staunton, VA)
14 August 2015
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