1942 -2019 Rudolph M. Decatur, Jr. (Rudy) died peacefully of heart failure on September 19, 2019 at INOVA Loudoun Hospital in Leesburg, VA. He was surrounded by his family.
Rudy was the only son of Rudolph Decatur and Marie Hellwig and stepson to Marcelle Decatur. Born in 1942, he spent his early childhood in Washington, DC until he moved to Arlington, VA . He graduated from Washington and Lee High School in 1960 and from George Washington University (GWU) in 1965 where he received his Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering. While at GWU, he was a graduate teacher, member of the electrical engineering honor society, Sigma Tau, and student member of the Institute of Electrical Electronic Engineers. From 1966 – 2001, he worked at David Taylor Model Basin of Research and Development for the US Navy as an electrical engineer and as a contracting officer, where he received many awards for excellence in performance and technical awards. Rudy loved the Redskins, trains, driving around his community, eating out and jazz music. He never missed a birthday or a family event and always had a calendar, notepad, or magazine subscription to give to his grand nephews and nieces!
He is survived by his step-brother J. Victor Lutz and wife, Donna, nephew David Lutz (Beth Willis), and nieces Heather Lutz (Jeff Kircher) and Susan Lutz (Eric Murphy). He has seven grand nephews and nieces; Hope, Matthew, Katherine, Lauren, Hannah, Kyle and Brayden. He will be missed dearly for his generosity and love of his family.
There will be a grave-side service (immediate family only) on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at Fort Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland, MD.