Richard D. "Dick" Chroninger, 94, of Maryville, Missouri passed away on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 at the Maryville Living Center.

Dick, a 2nd generation Kansas Citian, was born August 7,1926 at home on E.12th St, Kansas City Missouri to Harold Arthur Chroninger and R. Velma Clemow. They divorced soon after and he lived with step-parents, step-siblings in K.C., lowa and Kansas. Just prior to WWll he and his maternal Grandmother, Edith Clemow moved to Los Angeles, California. During the War he was joined by his mother. He obtained a Social Security card at 13 working at a neighborhood Drug Store as a Soda Jerk, later at a market as a box-boy. He attended Manual Arts High School, but at 16 dropped out and worked at the Glidden Paint Factory as a paint mixer.

Just before turning 18 in 1944 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Went to Boot Camp in San Diego, California, attended Signalman Training School at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. March 1945 he was assigned to the U.S.S. Kasaan Bay, CVE 69, an Escort Aircraft Carrier. Until War's end their ship, with 2 Destroyer Escorts, patrolled the Philippine Sea as a "Hunter/Killer task force searching for enemy submarines. When the War ended the ship was refitted with Bunks, eight high on the Hangar Dec becoming part of Operation "Magic Carpet" bringing Troops and Marines home to the States from various islands, including the Philippines and Hawaii. Later the ship wound up in Boston for de-activation and moth balling. He was discharged from the Navy, June, 1946.

He received his High School Diploma after a GED test and attended Los Angeles City College studying Accounting. Graduating with an Associate of Arts degree in L948. On June 4, 1948 he married Cora Lee Root before a Judge at the Los Angeles County Court House. Their marriage produced 4 children, three boys and a girl. They divorced in 1966.

He worked for Union Oil Co of California for 16 years before joining Johns-Manville Corp in 1964 in the Bay Area. He worked in various Accounting and Data Processing departments, before being down-sized into early retirement in Denver, CO in 1984. He moved to Maryville, MO in 1988.
He was preceded in death by both parents a half-sister and two half-brothers.

Survivors, sons, Douglas and Cindi Chroninger, Snellville, Ga. Steve and Nancy Chroninger, Grants Pass, Oregon, Rick and Kathy Chroninger, Milwaukie, Oregon, daughter Rev's Teresa and Tom Lucas, Osceola and Central City, Nebraska; eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; sister, Wilberta (Sutherland) and Buford Weddle, Ravenwood, Missouri.
Memorial Service 11am Tuesday, August 25th at Price Funeral Home. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be held at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Maryville Senior Center.
www.pricefuneralhomemaryville.com