GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Capt. Robert M. Schnable, Jr., 87, of Gainesville, Fla., died July 18, 2026.

Born in Chicago, Ill. on May 3, 1939, he was the son of the late Robert Sr. and Vera (Meagher) Schnable. He was pre-deceased by his wife, Gertrude “Trudy” Gribbin Schnable. Capt. Schnable passed away on what would have been their 67th wedding anniversary.

Capt. Schnable retired from the United States Navy in 2001, after 44 years of service. He achieved the very rare accomplishment of enlisting in the military and advancing through the ranks to earn an officer’s commission, retiring as a captain. Less than one percent of similar enlistees achieve this level of advancement.

Capt. Schnable served aboard the USS Yorktown, the USS IREX, the USS Trout, the USS Skate and the USS T Roosevelt. He served in duty stations up and down the east coast, including Groton, Conn., Worcester, Mass., Bethesda, Md., Charleston, S.C., Pensacola, Fla., Beaufort, S.C., Washington, D.C., and Jacksonville, Fla.

During his retirement, Capt. Schnable continued to serve by volunteering as a poll worker during elections and by volunteering at the VA hospital.

Surviving are his daughters Diane Maricic of Gainesville, Fla., Nielle Lott of Charleston, S.C., Tammy Robertson (Paul Robertson) of Plano, Texas, and Tanya Kell (Shawn Kell) of Newberry, Fla.; brothers Randall Schnable of Mentor, Ohio, and Richard Schnable of Dover, N.H.; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

The family expresses love and their deepest gratitude to eldest daughter, Diane Maricic, who lovingly served as caregiver to Capt. Schnable. They also express heart-felt appreciation to his VA hospital and Haven Hospice providers, and to his caregivers, Aminah, Tracy and Kaitlin.

A memorial service with military honors will be held in Gainesville, Fla., on Aug. 28, at 2 p.m. Arrangements, including a live stream of the memorial service, have been entrusted to Forest Meadows Funeral Home, 725 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville FL 32609 (352-378-2528).