Observer Online | Obituaries

Obituary
Edition of May 16, 2008

Henry Philip Gilbert Sr.

Reston Resident, Formerly of Washington, D.C.

Henry Philip Gilbert Sr., 94, of Sunrise Assisted Living in Reston and formerly of Washington, D.C., died Saturday, May 10, 2008. He was the husband of the late Mary E. Gilbert; father of Henry P. (Chip) Gilbert Jr. and his wife, Patricia, of Oak Hill, and William E. Gilbert and his wife, Francine, of Herndon; grandfather of Laurie Rosser, David Gilbert, Cassandra Gilbert and James Gilbert and great-grandfather of Patrick and Matthew Rosser.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Collins Funeral Home, 500 W. University Boulevard in Silver Spring, Md., where funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Interment will be at Fort Lincoln Cemetery.

Capt. Wallin Dodd Holtgren

Served in the United States Navy

Capt. Wallin Dodd Holtgren, 79, of Sterling, died April 24, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Mr. Holtgren was born Sept. 16, 1928, in Passaic, N.J. He was the only son of the late Walter Oscar Holtgren and the late Emma Catherine Taylor Holtgren. Capt. Holtgren graduated in 1951 from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. He served his country in the U.S. Navy, obtaining the rank of commander.

In the early 1960s, Mr. Holtgren worked for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration with the Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. He then worked for the Naval Sea Systems Command until his retirement in 1986. His family said he also enjoyed working part time as captain and engineer for various boat companies on the D.C. waterfront, including the Wilson Line, and he liked being a member of the Potomac River Pilot's Association.

Capt. Holtgren was recently preceded in death by his wife, Ellen Holtgren, who died April 1. He is survived by his son Walter Dodd Holtgren and his wife, Kimberly, of Crofton, Md.; his daughter Pamela Mary Holtgren of Sterling; and his two grandchildren, Kyle McKain Holtgren and Kerra Morgan Holtgren.

A celebration of Mr. Holtgren's life will be held at 3 p.m. May 18 at Capital Yacht Charters, located at Yacht Basin No.1, Washington Marina, 1300 Maine Ave., SW, in Washington, D.C. Graveside services and interment will be held July 24 at 3 p.m. at Arlington National Cemetery. Donations may be made in Mr. Holtgren's memory to the WRAMC Fisher House #56, c/o Fisher House Manager, 6900 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20307.

Walter Hatton

U.S. Army Veteran, Herndon Graduate

Walter L. Hatton, 60, formerly of Herndon, died May 1, 2008, at the Veterans Hospital in Richmond. He was born Feb. 24, 1948, in Harrisonburg, Va. Mr. Hatton attended Herndon High School before he joined the United States Army. From 1967 to 1969, he served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Mr. Hatton worked as an electrical contractor, and his family said he loved to fish, garden and watch sports, especially the Redskins.

Mr. Hatton was the father of Sharon Searl of Georgia and Debbie Wester of Texas; son of Ruth E. Hatton of Topping, Va., and the late Charles R. Hatton; brother of Earl F. Hatton of Sterling and Sandy Jenkins of Hume, Va. The family received friends Wednesday at Adams-Green Funeral Home, where funeral services were also held. Interment will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Virginia Division, Inc., Northern Virginia Area, 124 Park Street, S.E., Vienna, VA 22180.

Barbara Ely Waterman

Former Teacher

Barbara Ely Waterman died May 4, 2008, at the home of her daughter in Herndon. Mrs. Waterman was born April 23, 1914, in Brooklyn, N.Y. She earned a teaching license from New York University. Mrs. Waterman was a teacher for many years and became director of the Langley School in McLean, where she served from 1951 to 1964. Upon retiring, she became active with the Fairfax Hospital Auxiliary and was honored with "Auxilian of the Year" for her many hours of volunteering. In 1988, she moved to Warrenton, where she continued volunteering at the Fauquier Hospital and the adult day care center (Shadow Lawn) and with the Head Start program.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Oran H. Waterman, in 1989. She is survived by a son, John Waterman (Betsy) of Ocala, Fla., and two daughters, Joan Trudeau (Jack) of Rockville, Md., and Jeanie Gordon (Larry) of Herndon. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. A private family service will be held. Interment will be at Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Herndon.

Rebekah Sue Hutchinson

Professional Organist, Played at Trinity Presbyterian Church

Rebekah Sue Hutchinson, 67, of Taneytown, formerly of Sterling, died May 3, 2008 at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. Born Oct. 26, 1940, in El Centro, Calif., she was the daughter of the late A.D. and Dorothy Carnes Mahaffey. She was the wife of Col. Thomas F. "Tom" Hutchinson Jr., whom she married Jan. 27, 1962.

As a professional organist and choir director for about 50 years, Mrs. Hutchinson played for many churches, including Grace Episcopal Church in Brunswick, Md., and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Herndon, as well as in churches in the Philippines and Germany. Additionally, as a military wife, she traveled with her husband in his military career and was a director of music and organist for several U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force chapels. She attended San Diego State College where she majored in music. Her family said she also enjoyed needlework and embroidery and produced plays and musicals.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by daughters, Catherine Guldemond of Murphy, N.C., Laura Becraft and Deborah Villegas of New Windsor, Md.; son Thomas F. Hutchinson III of Wesley Chapel, Fla.; sister Raphael Hargraves and brother Allan D. Mahaffey of San Diego; in-laws Thomas F. Hutchinson Sr. and Lillian Leccy Lott Hutchinson of San Diego; seven grandchildren; one niece and one nephew. Donations may be made in Mrs. Hutchinson's honor to any local music program. Online condolences may be sent to www.prittsfuneralhome.com.