Capt. (USN) Ret. William Joseph Dichtel Sr, 96, died on Thursday, July 13, 2017, after an extended illness. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Malou Stark Dichtel; his son, Dr. William J. Dichtel Jr (Diana); daughter, the Rev. Anne Dwiggins (Paul); stepdaughters Dr. Stormy Stark and Courtney Stark. He is also survived by grandchildren, David Dwiggins, (Kate), Dr. Will Dichtel (Laura Nieder), Dr. Laura Dichtel Gibson (Dr. Chris), Daniel Dwiggins and Patrick Dwiggins (Jenn); as well as seven great-granddaughters, two step great-grandsons; his sister, Dorothy Jean Sells; a special niece, Mary Elizabeth Sells; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Ruth P. Dichtel; his brother, Bob Dichtel; and his parents, Maria and William Dichtel.

Bill led an exciting and full life. He was born in Portland, Oregon, on February 6, 1921, and 12 years later during the Great Depression, his father moved the family to a farm in the Oregon countryside where he developed a lifelong interest in farming. Together with his brother and father he built a large barn by hand which still stands today and he developed his penchant for being a Rube Goldberg fixit man of great talent (at least most of the time).

He graduated from Reed College as a physicist and later from George Washington University and the US War College with joint MBA degrees. Bill joined the Navy in World War II, eventually advancing to the rank of Capt. He served in the Pacific Theater, Yorktown, the Philadelphia Navy Yard and the Washington Navy Yards among other duty stations as an expert in mine warfare and guided missile defense systems, He watched the first A and H Bomb tests from the bow of a ship and went on later in life to watch many anti missiles launches at sea that he had developed.

Moving to Adelphi Maryland, he later he worked as the top civilian in the Washington Navy Yard, and in the Maryland Proving Grounds where he went on to become the chief civilian architect and developer of the AEGIS Weapons Defense system still in use as the United States first line of defense against nuclear warhead missile attacks.

During this development period, he spent much time going between NATO in Brussels and Washington, D.C., relaxing by biking through France, and touring the French, Belgian, and English countryside. He traveled extensively throughout Europe. He single handedly built several homes, sailed a 55' boat throughout the Caribbean Islands, and continued throughout his life the pursuit of education for himself and his family.

He was a true renaissance man, an avid and voracious reader until the end of his life, always excited by new scientific advancements and discoveries, enjoyed opera, art, theater, calligraphy, world affairs, sailing, hiking and was always eager to learn something new. He was a member of MENSA and awarded the Navy's highest civilian honor as well as numerous commendations and medals.

In 1979, Bill moved to Farmcolony and returned to his farming roots. From restoring the ancient land grant farm buildings to building the pole barn and the equipment barn to developing with the late Donald Thurnau and J. D. Ford, the cow/calf herd, haying, planting the orchard, vineyard and garden, he loved his farm deeply and left his imprint on it.

A Memorial Mass conducted by Father Dan Bain and Father Michael Mugumba will be held on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at 11 a.m. with a reception following, at Shepherd of the Hills Catholic Church, Quinque, Virginia. Interment will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greene Care Clinic, Reed College, or the U.S. Navy Fallen Patriots Folded Flag Foundation.

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Reed [College] Magazine; December 2017

As a captain in the U.S. Navy during World War II, William "Bill" Dichtel, Class of 1942, served in the Pacific theater as an expert in mine warfare and guided missile systems. After watching A- and H-bomb tests from the bow of a ship, he went on to see many antimissiles that he had developed launched at sea.

Following his service, he worked as the top civilian in the Washington Navy Yard, and at the Maryland Proving Grounds became the chief architect and developer of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, still used in the United States as the first line of defense against warhead missile strikes.

Bill was born in Portland, and during the Great Depression moved with his family to a farm in the Oregon countryside, where he developed a lifelong interest in farming. With his brothers and father, he built a large barn and developed a penchant for becoming a Rube Goldberg.style fix-it man. At Reed, he studied physics and wrote his thesis on the physical properties of electrets with Prof. A. A. Knowlton [physics 1915.48]. He went on to get joint MBA degrees from George Washington University and the United States Army War College.

Bill was a voracious reader, excited by new scientific advancements and discoveries. A true renaissance man, he enjoyed opera, theater, art, calligraphy, sailing, and hiking, and was a member of MENSA. He was awarded the navy.s highest civilian honor, as well as numerous commendations.

In 1979, he returned to his farming roots, moving to Farmcolony, Virginia, a subdivision nestled on the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains that contains 150 acres of working farm, 95 acres of home sites, and 40 acres of open space. He worked to restore the ancient land grant farm buildings, and helped with developing the cattle herd, haying, and planting the orchard, vineyard, and garden. Bill loved this farm deeply and left his imprint on it.

He is survived by his wife, Malou Stark Dichtel, and his son, William Jr., daughter, Anne Dwiggins, and stepdaughters, Stormy and Courtney Stark. His first wife, Ruth, predeceased him.

The Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Virginia)
16, 18 & 20 July 2017