Rev. Mr. Edward L. Christianson

Rev. Mr. Edward L. Christianson, “Deacon Ed”, age 88, of Winchester, passed away Friday, March 2, 2012, at Winchester Medical Center. He was born in 1924 in Green Bay, WI, a son of the late Ben and Stella Christianson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother and a sister. Surviving are his wife Mary, of 66 years; 3 children, Sharon Sucher of Springfield, VA; Susan Bessette of King George, VA, and David Christianson of Forth Worth, TX, and two brothers, Kenneth Christianson of Wausau, WI and James Christianson of Green Bay, WI. He has 7 grandsons and 7 great grand children.

Rev. Christianson was a World War II veteran. He served with the 106th Infantry Division as a Combat Medic during the Battle of the Bulge. Among his military awards were the Combat Medic Badge, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star for Valor and three bronze campaign stars. After his discharge, he and his wife returned to Washington, DC to his former position with the National Bureau of Standards. He was an Optical Instrument Technician. He completed his college studies in 1951 and graduated from St. Norbert’s College, Green Bay WI with a B. S. Degree in Physics.

He transferred to the U. S. Navy, Bureau of Aeronautics as an aero-space engineer. He served for ten years on the R & D teams responsible for the design and development of several of the Navy’s air defense jet aircraft and missile systems. Following this assignment, he transferred to NASA Manned Space Flight to do feasibility studies of a manned mission to Mars to follow the Apollo Lunar Program. These studies were terminated when it was determined the mission to be too costly and ambitious in that time period. He was the Medical Experiments Manager for both the Gemini and Skylab programs for which he received the Distinguished Service Award.

Deacon Ed was a pioneer in the “choose-and-cut” Christmas tree business in Virginia. After his retirement from NASA in 1975, he and Mary moved to Frederick County where they both became active in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He was a past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, and past president of the local NARFE Chapter.

At the invitation of his pastor, Ed began a three year course of studies to prepare him for service within the Arlington Diocese. He was ordained by Bishop Thomas J. Welch on May 16, 1981 to the Order of Deacon and was assigned to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Franciscan Friary at White Post to serve the needs of the priests and the people of the area.

The family will receive friends at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church on Monday, March 5, 2012, from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM Tuesday, March 6, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tuition Angel at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 130 Keating Drive, Winchester, VA 22601.

Arrangements are being handled by Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.

Please view obituaries and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com.