John C. Reilly Jr., Navy historian and author

John C. Reilly Jr., 79, a Navy historian and author who retired in 2001 as director of the Naval Historical Center’s ship history branch, died Dec. 17 at his home in Fairfax County.

He had Parkinson’s disease, said his wife, Anna Reilly.

Mr. Reilly joined the Naval Historical Center in the mid-1960s and became branch head in the mid-1980s.

During his time at the center, he was the author or co-writer of several books, including “United States Navy Destroyers of World War II in Action” (1985)....