Dean Fiery Elliott, 90, of Mount Airy, died Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, at home.
Born Aug. 28, 1923, in Hagerstown, he was the son of the late Brant and Louise Fiery Elliott. He was the husband of the late Opal Anna Swain Elliott, his wife of 68.5 years.
During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps in Brazil as a ground control radio operator. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics.
He spent many years in the aerospace industry at Fairchild Aircraft, building the first C-82 and C-119, the Flying Box Car. As a NASA engineer at the Goddard Space Flight Center, his projects included the Hubble Space Telescope and the Cosmic Background Explorer, which proved the existence of background radiation from the "Big Bang." He also worked with the team that built the first satellite flown on the Saturn Rocket, before it was used to carry men to the moon, the first spy drone, and spacecrafts that studied landing locations on the moon.
He was an active member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Mount Airy. During his life, he served in Lutheran churches in Hagerstown, Gaithersburg and Lanham. He enjoyed reading the Bible, teaching Sunday school and studying all religions.
Surviving are a son, Jeffrey N. Elliott and wife Rebecca Allen Elliott, of Mount Airy; brothers Merle, Ralph and Ray Elliott; grandchildren Jessamyn E. Brownell, of San Clemente, Calif., Erin E. Elliott, of Oakland, Calif., Neal E. Elliott, of Crofton, and Jennifer A. Bukolt, of Waxhaw, N.C.; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by a brother, Ned Elliott.
The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the time of the service, 2 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Lutheran Church, 16151 Old Frederick Road, Mount Airy, with the Rev. Anke Deibler, of Calvary Lutheran Church, officiating. Interment is private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Calvary Lutheran Church, 16151 Old Frederick Road, Mount Airy, MD 21771; or to Hospice of Frederick, 7000 Kimmel Road, Mount Airy, MD 21702.
Online condolences may be offered at
http://www.staufferfuneralhome.com
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http://www.carrollcountytimes.com
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