Robert W. O'Steen - Obituary

obert O'Steen, 91, of Silver Spring, MD, died peacefully at Arbor Ridge on Wednesday May 10, 2017. Robert was born on January 13, 1926 in Washington, DC to the late William and Jeanette O'Steen. He joined the Navy at age 17 during WWII. He then graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1949. He worked for the Dept. of the Army after graduation where his chief duty was scripting letters to Congress. He was a true wordsmith. He concurrently joined the Army Reserves, while working at NASA, for the procurement division at Goddard Space Flight Center MD. His retirement, at age 55 in 1981 from both NASA and the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, left him leisure time to pursue flying lessons. He earned his pilot’s license, finding great joy in the sky. Robert was a loving father, husband, grandfather, uncle and friend to all. He was predeceased by his first wife, Pearl and his second wife, Jeanne. He is survived by his son, Robert (Barbara) O'Steen Jr, and his daughter, Debra (Michael) Fleischer; grandchildren, Wesley and Carly; companion and friend, Dottie Zehringer, along with many nieces and nephews. The family would like to give special thanks to St. James' Episcopal Church and Riderwood Retirement Home for all of the arrangements and support. Friends are invited to celebrate Robert's life on Monday May 15, 2017 from 6 to 9 pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 16 at 11 AM at St. James' Episcopal Church in Lothian. Immediately following Robert will be laid to rest next to his loving wife Pearl V. O'Steen, at the Maryland Memorial Park in Laurel.