Robert Rush Stadelhofer

Robert Rush Stadelhofer (Bob) of McLean, VA died peacefully at his home on May 20, 2021. He was pre-deceased by his beloved wife of 64 years, Barbara Ann Stadelhofer.

Bob was born in St. Louis, MO on a warm June day…his mother could hear the lions roaring at the nearby St. Louis Zoo when he came into the world (or so he was told). His mom, Mabel Haizlip, also remembers attending the 1903 Worlds Fair in St. Louis. His father, Edward Carl Stadelhofer, was in the Allied Expeditionary Force of WWI. They had been high school sweethearts, at the same high school he later attended: Webster Groves HS. His father’s father, Fritz Stadelhofer, emigrated from Konstanz, Germany before the turn of the century. Both of Bob’s older brothers fought in WWII while he was still in school. Bob earned a BA in Journalism from the University of Missouri, where he was also in the Naval Officer Training Corps. He began flight training as a Naval aviator and met his wife Barbara (a teacher) while training in Kansas. He went on to serve on patrol squadron services in the Pacific and several tours of duty in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. They went on to raise five children spanning many years, moving to numerous Naval bases between Whidbey Island, WA, Coronado, CA, Norfolk, VA, Brunswick, ME, and both Arlington and McLean, VA. He finished his service time working at the Pentagon in Public Affairs for the Secretary of Defense. He used his journalism background to assist in television productions and broadcasting, as well as serving as an escort for television correspondents and film crews.

After his Naval service, Bob went on to retire in McLean, VA and spent time working for the National Prayer Breakfast headquarters, as well as the American Petroleum Institute and the American Gas Association. He continued to do government contracting work for several years. Upon full retirement he kept himself active and healthy by traveling, reading Russian literature and history books, watching old movies by his beloved fireplace, learning to speak Russian, doing daily crossword puzzles, and of course jogging and swimming. Not even a pandemic or a heart attack in 2020 could stop him from doing his daily 10-15 laps at the Langley Swim Club!

Bob was an active and long-time member of Fourth Presbyterian Church, and served as a deacon, elder and a long-time member of the missions committee. He enjoyed traveling to assist with a sister church in Zelenograd, Russia. He also was an essential member of his neighborhood, having lived in the same house in McLean for over 50 years. He took great joy in conversing with and helping out friends, neighbors and family members.

Bob had a wonderful sense of humor, a great love of history, theology, literature and cinema. He also grew to love telling stories of his time in the Navy…which he referred to as his “sea stories.” He will be remembered for his larger than life personality. He had an uncanny knack for connecting with everyone he met, and he always had words of wisdom and support for his children and grandchildren (often in various other languages too, just to keep them on their toes). He will be sorely missed by all who knew him, but we know his spirit lives on in all of us.

Survivors include his five children, Catherine A. Proctor (Mike), Christie L. Hawkins, Steven P. Stadelhofer, Scott R. Stadelhofer (Carmen) and Karen S. Vickers (Paul) and 6 grandchildren, Ashley L. Hawkins, Chad P. Vickers, Noah B. Vickers, Jackson R. Vickers, Justin B. Stadelhofer, and Isabell L. Stadelhofer.

Memorial services will be held at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, MD on what would have been Bob’s 91st birthday, June 19, 2021 at 1 PM.

Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like Eagles.

Isaiah 40:31

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds,-and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of -wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence, Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air….

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or ever eagle flew-

And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

~John Gillespie Magee