Dean Elliott

Dean Fiery Elliott of Mount Airy, MD, departed this life at home on February 9, 2014. He was 90 years old, born August 28, 1923 in Hagerstown, MD, the son of the late Brant and Louise (Fiery) Elliott. He has four brothers, Ned who preceded him in death, Merle, Ralph and Ray Elliott. He was married to Opal Anna Elliott (nee Swain) for 68½ years who proceed him in death, a son Jeffrey N. Elliott, his wife, Rebecca Allen Elliott, of Mount Airy, MD; four grandchildren, Jessamyn E. Brownell of San Clemente, CA; Erin E. Elliott of Oakland, CA; Neal E. Elliott of Crofton, MD; Jennifer A. Bukolt of Waxhaw, NC; and eight great-grandchildren. He was an engaged and active member of Calvary Lutheran Church, Mount Airy. During his lifetime he served in Lutheran churches in Hagerstown, Gaithersburg and Lanham. He loved reading the bible, teaching Sunday school and studying all religions. During World War II he served the United States Army Air Corps in Brazil as a ground control radio operator. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree 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 (HST) and The Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE), 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. The funeral will be held on Saturday, February 15th at 2 pm at Calvary Lutheran Church, 16151 Old Frederick Rd, Mt. Airy, MD. The family will receive friends at 1 pm prior to the service. The Church will provide refreshments following the service. The Rev. Anke Deibler of Calvary Lutheran Church will officiate. Internment is private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Calvary Lutheran Church or Hospice of Frederick.

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