Robert Lee Rayburn, retired owner of Chattanooga Heating & Air and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II's Battle of Leyte Gulf, died Sunday at age 95.
Rayburn served in the Navy from 1943-45, mostly aboard the destroyer escort USS John C. Butler as a ship's gunner. He was involved in a number of battles, including Morotia, Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima and Leyte Gulf.
"It's the largest Navy battle in history," Rayburn told the Times Free Press about Leyte Gulf. "There was 13 of us little ships, and we were outgunned - could only shoot about seven miles - and we were up against Japanese battleships that had a range of about 15 miles."
The battle lasted about two-and-a-half hours, and out of the 13 ships his was the only one not sunk or damaged, he said.
After the war Rayburn met his wife, Virginia. They had three children, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was vice president and general manager for 36 years at General Oils Co. and started Chattanooga Heating and Air Conditioning in 1984. The company remains within the family.
In 1962, Rayburn helped found the East Brainerd Youth Athletic Association, and he coached youth baseball for 14 years. He was active in a number of civic organizations and was a longtime member of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
The funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road, with Dr. Lanny Johnson and Dr. Courtney Krueger officiating.
Burial will be in Chattanooga National Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Thursday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the funeral home.