Robert Frederick Danner of Duxbury died Saturday, Feb. 14. He was 85.

Born Sept. 16, 1923, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Carl Frederick and Cornelia Joy Danner. He was raised in Waban and Duxbury, attended Rivers School, MIT, and the University of New Hampshire.  Mr. Danner remained active in the alumni associations of Rivers and MIT’s Beta Theta Pi chapter throughout his life.

During World War II he served with the 1286 Engineering Combat Battalion, building bridges for General George Patton’s Army. He was injured in Germany in 1945.

After the war he worked for the United Shoe Machinery Corp and spent most of his working career with Raytheon Corp where among other jobs, he was in charge of procurement.

Mr. Danner was a life member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, the oldest active military organization in the USA, established in 1637. He served as the Company’s Personnel Adjutant and Clerk for many years.  He was a member by Right of Descent from Thomas Joy, his ninth great-grandfather who was a member in 1655.

He was an enthusiastic Patriots fan and member of the Duxbury Yacht Club for 64 years. He was a member of The Corinthians.  Mr. Danner loved sailing, cruising, and anything to do with yachting and boats.

He enjoyed his close friends the Wharf Rats of Duxbury, belonged to the Romeo lunch group, the Duxbury Men’s Club, the Boston 76 Club, and the Masons. He also belonged to the Massachusetts chapter of the Society of Colonial Wars in Boston.

He married Virginia Harlow in 1948. He was predeceased by his second wife, Sarah Bennett Danner, his daughter, Deborah Joy Danner, and step-son, Joseph Eaton.  He is survived by his son, Robert F. Danner, Jr., two step-sons, Henry B. Eaton and Nicholas W. Eaton, his sister and brother in law, Sally and Tom Sawyer, his sister in law, Mary Danner, and eight grandchildren.

Burial will be private. A memorial service will be held at a later date.