Andrew John McCulloch

Andrew John McCulloch March 30, 1933 – April 29, 2015 Andrew John McCulloch, age 82, beloved husband of his wife Clara for 57 years, peacefully departed this world as he slept and joined his Lord on the afternoon of April 29, 2015. Andy was born March 30, 1933 in South Haven, Michigan, the first son of John and Anna McCulloch. He was baptized into the Christian faith as an infant and confirmed at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Lansing, MI. He graduated from Sexton High School in Lansing, MI, Class of 1951, and earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1955 in its Centennial Year. As a cadet in the Air Force ROTC at MSU, upon graduation, Andrew was commissioned as an officer in the US Air Force, serving in reserve capacity. Andy began his career at the Boeing Company in Renton, WA in June 1955. He worked only three months before he was called to active duty in the United States Air Force. Upon completion of training, Andy was assigned to the 319th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Bunker Hill Air Force Base near Peru, IN to fly the F-89J Scorpion. While on active duty, Andy met his future wife, Clara White, a school teacher, in Sarasota, Florida, on a fortuitous blind date, and they married on June 28, 1957 in Bluefield, West Virginia, near the White family home. Honorably discharged to the Air Force Reserve in July 1959, Andrew returned to Renton with Clara and their newborn son Eric and continued work at Boeing. Andy loved every aspect of his work, receiving commendations for his engineering, recruitment, and managerial skills. While he retired from his 40-year career at Boeing in June 1995, Andy continued to share his expertise in and enjoyment of aerospace and engineering with active Boeing engineers. He subsequently conceptualized the solution to a critical problem that was impeding the certification of the 787 Dreamliner. A patent was issued on September 1, 2009. Andrew is survived by his wife Clara (White); their three children: Eric (Judy) and children Jacob (Rachel), John, Janelle, and James; Mark and children Christopher and Carissa; and Marla (Norman Elmquist) and children Paul (Emily) and Selah; three great grand children: Ryan and Anna McCulloch, and Ariane Elmquist; his brother David (Marjorie) and sister Mary (Daniel Janetzke), many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and his aunt, Lois Raftshol. Andrew is dearly loved and is greatly missed by many friends and family whose lives he touched in his life: at work; at home; at church; as neighbor; in travels by air, car, motorcycle, and foot; in basketball played and coached; in visits given and received; at reunions--family and otherwise; as favorite cousin or favorite uncle; as mentor; even as a patient as his health faded; and always as a man of firmly founded Christian faith. “ I’m not afraid to die,” Andrew would say, always followed closely by “I want to live.” Andy did live as fully as he could, to his best ability, with his best spirit that stayed strong and vibrant to his last day with us here. That day was also his first day with God in heaven, as promised and given to Andrew by grace through his faith in Jesus as his Savior. Andrew was preceded in death by his parents John and Anna (Raftshol) McCulloch, and half-brother Dalton McCulloch and his wife Mary. Funeral services will be held at 11 am on Saturday, May 9, 2015, at Divine Peace Lutheran Church in Renton, WA, nearby the home that Andy happily shared with Clara, his children, and other family members and friends for 52 glad and eventful years. Andy’s long-time pastor and friend of many years, Reverend (retired) Neal Schroeder, will officiate. Andrew will be buried at 10:30 am on Monday, May 11, 2015 in Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA, with Military Honors for his service in the United States Air Force and Reserve. Remembrances and memorial donations may be directed to the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (262-242-8100), the United Services Organization (888-484-3876), or the National Parkinson Foundation (800-473-4636).

Funeral Service

May 9, 2015, 11:00 am