Irving Ira Ungudruk, who lived in Sitka most of his life, died July 2 at Sitka Community Hospital’s long-term care unit. He was 66.
At his request, no services will be held.
Ira was born June 17, 1949, in Unakaleet, the son of Irving and Mabel Ungudruk.
When he was 2, the family moved to Sitka, where his father was with the Federal Aviation Administration. He graduated from Sitka High, and was attending Sheldon Jackson College when his draft number came up. Instead of the U.S. Army, he opted to see the world in the U.S. Navy. He served on a nuclear-powered ship, the USS Truxtun. When it made port in Okinawa, the Japanese saw it as an affront because of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, Ira’s family said, and on shore leave, the Truxtun crew suffered some injuries. As a result Ira and others were awarded Bronze Stars.
After his discharge, Ira returned to Sitka, where he worked in several restaurants as a prep cook.
He was a member of the American Legion.
Ira was preceded in death by his parents, Irving and Mabel Ungudruk, and a sister, Carol Huff.
He is survived by his daughter, Roxanne Hoffay of Fairbanks; grandchildren Sean, Georgia and Emily Hoffay of Cottage Grove, Ore.; sister Edna Peters, her husband Emmett Peters Sr., and sons Emmett Peters Jr. and Emory, all of Ruby; sister Gloria Graham (and Oreo) of Sitka; sister Marilyn Ungudruk (and Kelly) of Sitka; and brother Ben Ungudruk, of Anchorage.
