CDR Arthur Bruce Cannon

October 5, 2020

CHARLOTTE – Arthur Bruce Cannon, U.S. Navy Commander (Ret.)

Bruce Cannon, 77, a retired Navy Commander, who later worked as a Defense Support Contractor, passed away on October 5, 2020 at his home in Charlotte, NC.  He was born on February 6, 1943 in Portsmouth, VA and grew up in Dunedin, FL.  He had an active life in Dunedin, where he played Little League and Babe Ruth League Baseball, sailed prams and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.  Bruce mowed lawns and delivered newspapers until he attended Florida State University.

He graduated from FSU and received his commission from Navy Officer Candidate School, Newport, RI.  CDR Cannon’s twenty-two years of naval service included ship and shore assignments.  He served as Officer in Charge of a Patrol Craft Fast (Swift Boat) in the Republic of South Vietnam in 1968.  He was a Surface Warfare Specialist and Communications Subspecialist.  He was Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval Communication Station Japan.  He earned a master’s degree in management from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA.

CDR Cannon’s awards included the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

After retiring from the Navy, he worked in program management and business development for defense contractors in the Washington, DC area and retired from Computer Sciences Corporation in 2011.  He supported the Navy’s Amphibious Warfare Program Office, Washington Navy Yard, for over eight years.  He moved from Arlington, VA to Charlotte, NC in 2013.

CDR Cannon is survived by his wife, Lucille Cannon, of Charlotte; stepdaughter, Meghan Shelton and her husband, John, of Charlotte and three grandchildren, Connor, Emerson and Finley.

CDR Cannon will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on a later date.  In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Mesothelioma Research Foundation in Bruce’s name.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

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  • Robert Landis

    I’m sorry to hear of Bruce’s passing. I met him at student orientation at Florida State University in 1963 as we roomed together. We became friends and he convinced me to join Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity as he had done. As we started our college careers together we had some good times in those days. He had a wonderful career and life after college. He graduated before I did and went on into the navy. I wish we had stayed in touch in later years.
    He was a good friend and a great guy.
    Robert Landis
    Atlanta

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  • Sandra G Riddle

    Lucy, Words are so inadequate to express concern and sympathy. But you and your family are on my heart and in my prayers during this time of loss and grief.

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  • Melanie Giarratana

    Am so sorry to learn of this-- Bruce was a kind, generous man with a wry sense of humor. My heart goes out to all his family. He'll have the peace now that he so deserves.

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  • Dale Linder

    Rest peacefully dear Bruce. I worked with Bruce - or as I fondly called him Arthur B - at Techplan Corp. in Arlington, VA in the late 80’s/early 90’s. He was always a gentleman and shared funny stories of his life. My condolences to his family and friends. Godspeed Arthur B.

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  • Shawn Wilson

    Lucy, It’s Shawn Wilson from Centurum (Techplan). I’m so sorry to hear about Bruce. My heart is broken and please accept my thoughts and prayers for you and Meghan. I need to let you know the weird way I found out about him. We didn’t receive our Sunday NYT delivery, so my wife and I drove to the local news stand and replaced it with the Washington Post. I haven’t read the Post in years, but as I’m going through it I came across his picture staring back at me. I think he had something to do about that. Bruce was a great friend and mentor. I think fondly of the times we spent socializing with the two of and how he badgered me save more money in our 401K and to stop renting and buy a house. He was right, I retired from the company after 28 years and before my 60th birthday. He was a great guy and he had a good life. Stay strong and hang in there. Sincerely

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  • Richard C. Boyd

    I've know Bruce and been a classmate of Bruce's since Kindergarten. Our lives paralleled each other in our growing up years in Dunedin, FL. We even had a race to see who would become an Eagle Scout first. He beat me by a few months. He was a good friend and companion. I appreciated his life and his contributions. He will be missed. Richard C. Boyd

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  • Elaini Bingham

    I did not know Bruce but Am a friend of Lucy Cannon. My sincere sympathy to the family.

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  • Richard L. Moore

    Bruce was one of the good guys. He was raised by his Mom as I was and she and all of Dunedin was so proud when he made Eagle Scout. We rode our motor scooters and motor bikes together with a group of friend.Fished off the Dunedin dock.Ran paper routes and stayed out of trouble. I will miss him. Love Richard

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  • Paula Webet

    I met Bruce and Lucy around five years ago to pet sit for their then cat, Banx. It started out as a work relationship, touching base on dates they would need me for their being out of town, but we became friends and I always enjoyed our conversations. Bruce would usually be the one to walk me out when I came by, as the gentleman he was. I enjoyed our talks and know he was a very kind and caring person. He loved his family and both Banx, that passed, and then Marley that he and Lucy picked out as the house was too quiet. Marley's entertaining them made them happy, and I think Bruce was always enjoying Marley's running around and watching Bruce on his laptop. Bruce was happy and lived a full life. He could have done it probably on his own, but having a wonderful wife, and caregiver in the end with Lucy, made him at peace with going to Heaven. No doubt, he and Banx are watching over Lucy and Marley now. I will miss you Bruce. You are a good man.

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