ROBERT DALE "Bob" MATULKA USN CDR (Ret.)
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Robert Dale "Bob" Matulka, USN CDR (Ret.), age 79, of Arlington, Virginia, died Monday, August 7, 2017, at his residence.
Bob is survived by his devoted wife, Darlene (Gehler Lebedev) Matulka; his son, Michael Joseph Matulka and former daughter-in-law Edith (DeYoung) Matulka; his daughter, Meghan Anne Matulka and daughter-in-law Lori Dale Nicely; his grandsons, Patrick Robert Matulka and Alec James Matulka; his granddaughter, Marie Dale Matulka-Nicely, his sister Elizabeth Ann (Matulka) Scott (Darrell Scott), his nephews Gabriel William Scott and Aaron Joseph Scott, niece Rachel Elizabeth (Scott) Rodriguez, and his aunt Verna (Leischner) Pettibon.
Born at home in Chinook, MT, he was the son of the late Joseph John and Agnes Caroline (Leischner) Matulka.
Bob spent his childhood around his father's machine shop in Chinook and later drove tractor on the family wheat farm north of Turner and later the farm north of Dodson.
Upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1960, Bob married his beloved wife, Mary Kathleen "Kay" (Thompson) Matulka of Havre. They had two children, Michael and Meghan.
Bob earned his wings as a carrier pilot flying an A4D Skyhawk off of the USS Midway in Vietnam 1963-1965. He earned his Ph.D in aerospace engineering and space physics in 1970 at Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
A 20 year career in the Navy and then in the private sector involved work on satellites, computer hardware research, and space application projects.
Throughout, Bob faithfully maintained the family farm in Phillips County.
Michael gave Bob and Kay two grandsons, Patrick and Alec, and Meghan gave them a granddaughter Marie. Kay passed away in 2007. Bob found love again and married his wife Darlene.
He will be remembered as kind, hardworking, and giving with a dry sense of humor. Bob loved Montana, especially his visits home every year to visit family and friends and to do farm business.
It is Montana where he will be laid to rest. Bob will sorely be missed by his family and countless friends.
The visitation and funeral Mass will be held in Arlington, VA. Details are still being finalized as to date and time for a Rosary service at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church, Chinook, and interment at Kuper Memorial Cemetery, Chinook, but both are expected to take place on Friday (August 18), Saturday (August 19), or Monday (August 21).
Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook, is in charge of the arrangements in Montana and the family encourages those who would like to attend the Rosary service or burial to contact the funeral home for the updated schedule.
In lieu of flowers, Bob has requested donations in his memory to the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation.
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