Robert Irving McGrath, Jr., 69, of Garden Ridge, Texas, passed away on February 15, 2022 in Garden Ridge.  He was born September 22, 1952, in Plainview, Texas, to Robert and Norma (Croxton) McGrath, Sr.

He attended Texas Tech University and graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and dance. He then moved to San Francisco, CA to pursue a short, successful career as a dance choreographer, but soon realized this path would not lead to his goals, and chose to enter the US Navy.

In 1981 he was commissioned as an Ensign following Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI to begin a 23 year career as a naval officer. His first orders were to USS Gallant (MSO 489) out of Treasure Island, CA as the Engineering Officer. In 1983 he received orders to USS Thach (FFG 43) as the Combat Information Center Officer in San Diego and Long Beach, CA. During this assignment, he married Bonnita Carol Wood in Lubbock, TX.  In 1986 the young family received orders to Pearl Harbor, HI where Rob worked at Fleet Training Group as the Operations and Scheduling Officer.  In 1988 the growing family set their sails for Newport, RI for Department Head School and upon graduation in 1989 received orders as Operations Officer aboard USS Antrim (FFG 20) out of Mayport, FL. In 1991 the family moved to San Diego, CA, when Rob received orders to USS Vincennes (CG 49) as the Operations Officer for a long West Pacific deployment. In 1992, after reuniting with his family, he was selected for command and attended training in Newport, RI. In 1993, Rob received orders and accepted command of USS Dextrous (MCM 13) in Sturgeon Bay, WI. He piloted Dextrous through the St. Lawrence Seaway, along the East Coast, and through the Gulf Coast to its home port in Ingleside, TX. In 1996, Rob received orders to Mine Warfare Command as an Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations at Naval Station Ingleside Texas. In 1999, he received orders to COMCMRON ONE in Ingleside and served as the Chief Staff Officer.  In 2001, Rob accepted his last duty station with the US Navy at the Mine Warfare Training Center in Ingleside as the Executive Officer.  He retired from active duty in March of 2003.  He then transferred to Government Service (GS) and continued his career as the Assistant Operations Officer at Naval Mine and Antisubmarine Warfare Command at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi until 2009. During this period, he also served as a City Councilman for the City of Portland, TX.  In 2009, he accepted a GS position with the US Army as the Operation Order Coordinator and XO for the Provost Marshall/Protection Division at Installation Management Command located at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX.  After 13 years of total government service, Rob retired again and ramped up hobbies of keeping up with old friends, making new friends, playing with grandkids, woodworking, gardening, jigsaw puzzling, traveling to the "Land", whispering to his chickens and caring for his dog.

The celebration of Rob's life is scheduled for March 19, 2022 at 2:00 pm at Doeppenschmidt funeral home, 189 N. Seguin Ave., New Braunfels, Tx.

In lieu of flowers the family would like for those who wish, to make donations to The Wounded Warriors Project.