Chester Rawlings Finagin

Chester Rawlings Finagin, 97, of Silver Spring, Maryland passed away Friday, January 14, 2022.  Burial will be at a later date in Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, Maryland.

Chester was born on June 15, 1924 in Washington, D.C. to Archie L. and Louise E. (Rawlings) Finagin, and he grew up in the Washington D.C. area.  He was president of his Anacostia High School graduating class in 1942.  He immediately began working at C&P Telephone Company while awaiting acceptance into the Navy’s pre-flight school.  He was accepted and his dream of being a naval aviator was fulfilled when he received his wings of gold on September 13, 1943.  He was deployed as a combat fighter pilot to the U.S.S. Manila Bay, and he was awarded three Air Medals during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October,1944.  He left active duty in 1946, serving in the Naval Reserve until retiring as a Commander in 1966.  As a civilian, he worked 39 years for Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, including an assignment in Iran.  After retiring from the telephone company, he continued to consult internationally on telecommunication projects.

Chester was beloved by his family and left a legacy of service to others for his grandchildren.  Here are a few of many quotes from their remembrance of him:

Sunday night phone calls discussing dreams for great-grandkids, and Grandpa’s wiring the phone by the White House pool for President Kennedy.
He leaves an amazing legacy of adventure, courage, bravery, loyalty, and love.
Sharing a great-grandson’s commitment to attend the Naval Academy, which had been Grandpa’s dream until interrupted by WWII.
Grandpa’s experiences in Tehran during the 1979 fall of the Shah.  Also, his being one of few people to fly as the only passenger on Air Force One, and sit at the President’s Oval Office desk while developing communication systems.
Attending a great-granddaughter’s preschool Father’s Day program when her dad was out of town.

Chester was a man of integrity and steadfast Christian faith.  He served as a leader, Bible teacher, and deacon in churches he attended.  He was active in Gideons and prison ministry.  He often thanked “the Good Lord” for protecting him, especially during WWII combat over the Philippines and while in Tehran during the Iranian Revolution of 1979.

Chester is survived by Edna (Blevins), his wife of 74 years; his brother William (Gloria); daughters Vickie (Jim) Burns and Diane (David) Love; five grandchildren Matt (Heidi) Burns, Brian (Amye) Love, Stephanie Burton, Michelle (Chris) Stemweddle, Eric (Stephanie) Burns; and ten great-grandchildren Bennett, Joe, Parker, Sean, Jaci, Aiden, Ainsley, Samantha, Kayla, and Ryan; and many more nieces and nephews.

Chester was preceded in death by his parents; brother Jack, and sister Audrey Watts.

Memorial contributions may be made to:

Gideons International By phone: (866) 382-4253

On-line:  https://sendtheword.org

By check:  Gideons, PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214

Alzheimer’s Association By phone: (800) 272-3900

On-line:   www.alz.org

By check: National Processing Center, Alzheimer's Association  PO Box 96011, Washington DC 20090-6011

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum By Phone: (808) 441-1000

On-line:  https://pearlharboraviationmuseum.org

By check: Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum 319 Lexington Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96818