Chief Ship’s Clerk Virgil Clair Huntley was born on December 9, 1904. Having attained the Rank/Rating of Chief Ship’s Clerk, along with his attained age of 40 on the day of sinking of USS Indianapolis CA-35 (July 30, 1945), it is surmised that he would have served in the United States Navy until reaching military retirement age. Given his length of service to date and his anticipated tenure in the Navy, it is not surprising that his wife would have maintained his dress uniforms in her broken homeplace.
In an undated facebook posting (see photo below), Virgil’s granddaughter, Karen Washburn, shared the following:
"The tragedy of the Indy and her crew changed the lives of everyone involved. My grandfather, Virgil C. Huntley, was not a survivor. My grandmother mourned him for 50 years. His dress uniforms hung in her closet, as if he would return any day. I grew up hearing their love story and I’ve carried him with me my entire life."
Karen was the daughter of a child of Virgil C. Huntley and throughout Karen’s lifetime she grew up in her family learning about (and also mourning) the loss of a grandfather.
Yes, the tragedy of the Indy and her crew changed the lives of everyone involved!
Rank / Rating: CSHCLK-Chief Ship's Clerk
ABBOTT, George Stanley 
FRONTINO, Vincent Fred 
AMICK, Homer Irwin