Troy E. Gruber Sr., 85, of Chambersburg, Pa., died Feb. 5, 2013, after a battle with cancer.

Born June 16, 1927, in Mount Joy, Pa., he was the son of the late Ida Jane Gruber. He later moved to Harrisburg, Pa., and he graduated from William Penn High School in 1945.

A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served with distinction from May 1945 through April 1967 as a naval photographer, attaining the rank of senior chief petty officer. He was awarded six Good Conduct Medals, Navy Expeditionary Medal (Cuban Operations), World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Medal, two National Defense Medals and Korean Service Medal (2 Stars). His naval career took him to several countries on a range of assignments through numerous duty stations, including Atlantic Fleet Mobile Photographic Group, Naval School of Photography, USS Leyte and USS Palau. His wide range of assignments encompassed events from the shores of Korea, the entombment of General Douglas MacArthur to flying with the Navy’s aerial acrobatic team, the Blue Angels. After his retirement from the Navy, he continued his photographic profession with the federal government, first with the Weapons Systems Test Center at the Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, where through aerial photography he documented the use and actions of airborne weaponry. Several years later, he joined the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, where he photographed everyday reservation life of the American Indian in several Western states and the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska, where he documented Kim Agnew, daughter of the late Vice President Spiro Agnew, visiting remote Native Alaskan villages. The images he created were used to produce multimedia presentations utilized in congressional hearings and public information, before returning to Patuxent River, where he retired from federal service.

He was committed to community service with civic organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America, Fleet Reserve Association, Loyal Order of Moose, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, AMVETS and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed camping, hiking, hunting and fishing.

In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Shirley Teresa Knox; and his sister, Betty Farrell. He is survived by his present wife, Pamalee; children, Clara Nichols and her husband, Alan, Troy E. Gruber Jr. and his wife, Jeanne, Margaret Redman and Harry Gruber; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A funeral service was held Feb. 7 at the William F. Sellers Funeral Home in Chambersburg, with the Rev. William H. Harter officiating. The family received friends and a funeral service was held Feb. 11 at Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home in Leonardtown. Deacon Bill Nickerson officiated. Interment followed at Charles Memorial Gardens in Leonardtown.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, mailing checks to Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, Veterans Assistance Fund, 29449 Charlotte Hall Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622.