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Richard E. Wiltamuth passed away in Silver Spring, MD, on July 7, 2025 at age 86. He was a character. In his final years, he was fond of saying, "I've lived a very interesting life."
Richard (Dick) was born in Indio, CA in 1938. He attended Des Moines Technical High School and Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and then Iowa State University before graduating from Drake University. He paid his own way through college by working full-time loading and unloading railroad asphalt cars and tending a high-pressure boiler.
Dick served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, retiring at the rank of Commander. His early Navy duty included serving as a radio operator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge, where a highlight was helping with the recovery of a Mercury 7 astronaut in the Pacific Ocean. Next, he served four years in Japan, where his sons Mark and Scott were born. Subsequently, he served in a variety of roles in the Maryland area until his retirement after 20 years of service. While in the Navy, he earned a master's degree in computer and information systems from American University. He went on to teach graduate courses for 12 years as an adjunct professor at American University.
After the Navy, Dick had a corporate career working for General Electric's Space Division, Lucas Aerospace, Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute, and Orbital Sciences in computer and aerospace management roles. He retired at age 75. Read Full Obituary