Carl Jesse Hastings, CWO2, U.S. Navy, 78, passed away May 14, 2023. Carl was raised in Delphi, N. Y., by the late Ralph and Jane Jenkins Hastings. He was predeceased by his brother Ralph Hastings, Commander, U. S. Navy, Ret. (Harriet); sister, Marie Daignault; and great granddaughter, Kinsley Dinger. Carl began working in his parent’s store at age 8. At age 12, he added a job as a farm hand at Loomis’ farm. When he was 16, he bought the local garbage route. Carl was very active in his years at Fabius High School. He was a member of the Yorkers and Drama Clubs as well as lettering in every sport offered by the school. When he graduated at 16, he was accepted to MIT. He was unable to attend as he did not get notice of his full Regent’s scholarship until after the college’s acceptance deadline. He worked two jobs to put himself through the fledgling Syracuse Institute of Technology and graduated at 18. Carl served his country faithfully in the U.S. Navy. He was the Honor Man of his boot camp company. Carl helped develop the Navy’s D. S. training program, once traveling from Washington, D. C. to Valejo, CA with the entirety of the program’s materials in a box strapped to the roof of his Dodge station wagon. He rose to Warrant Officer in 8 years, becoming the youngest Warrant Officer in Naval history to that time. He had never been stationed on a ship. During his time in the Navy, he was stationed in Washington, D.C., Valejo, CA, Newport, RI, Jacksonville, FL, and San Diego, CA. When he became a civilian, he moved to Virginia Beach, VA with Lockheed Martin. He worked for Lockheed Martin for 37 years. He loved traveling the world by Navy ships as a Senior Field Technical Engineer and often regaled his family with stories of being transferred from ship to ship or lowered on to submarines from helicopters. Carl loved racing and went to the NASCAR races in Charlotte, NC, twice a year for 25 years. He loved camping and felt that Yosemite was as close to Heaven as you can get on Earth. He treasured yearly family vacations in Clayton, NY. He loved the area so much he often acted as an unofficial ambassador telling everyone he met they should go there. In his words,” You have to see Bolt Castle.” His favorite singers were Patsy Cline and Guy Penrod. His favorite song was Boot Scooting Boogie. He enjoyed watching British Mysteries. He made regular donations to Boys Town and The Union Mission.
Left to cherish his memory are his adored wife of 59 years, Keeta S. Hastings; daughters Katrina Hastings and Kristin Kunkle (Brian); grandchildren, Emma Kunkle (Roger Patierno) and Brandon Kunkle (Stephanie Ruiz); and great grandson, Jesse Patierno; nieces, Sharon Jascula (Brad) and Michelle Daignault; nephews, Jeffrey Daignault, Chief Master Sergeant, U. S. Air Force, Ret (Jackie) and Steven Hastings (Joy).
Carl had recently graduated from saying,” Have a great day.” He would want you to have a great life!
A service to celebrate his life will be held at Graham Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1112 Kempsville Rd., Chesapeake, VA on Thursday May 25,2023, at 7 P.M. at the funeral home with Pastor Tracy Gregory officiating. Please visit www.grahamfuneralhome.com to view the service if unable to attend and leave a condolence for the family.