John D. S. Muhlenberg

John D.S. Muhlenberg (Dave)

1929-2025

On September 23, 2025 John D. S. Muhlenberg (Dave) passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Vienna Virginia where he lived for the past 56 years. He was 95 years old. He was the youngest of his four siblings. He had three sisters; Betty, (deceased), Caroline (deceased), and Frederica who lives in Oakland, California.

Dave was born November 10, 1929 in Reading, Pennsylvania. He attended a private school for two years and then entered public schools. The family left Reading PA in June 1941 to accompany his father and mother through numerous U.S. Army stateside assignments.

As a result, Dave attended junior and senior high schools in Alexandria VA, Ashland KY, Ft. Thomas KY, across the river from Cincinnati OH. After the end of WWII his father was discharged from active duty and the family returned to Reading PA. Dave was enrolled as a working scholarship student at Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg PA, from which he graduated with honors in 1947.

Dave graduated from both Williams College and MIT with a B.A. and B.S. respectively under a joint five year program. After graduation in 1952 he had a draft-deferred job in Saudi Arabia, but returned to the United States and enlisted in the U.S. Army. There he served 3 years (1954-1957) mostly at Ft. Belvoir VA.

After an honorable discharge, he settled in the area around Washington D.C. He worked for several local technical companies; Melpar (E-Systems/Raytheon) and the Communications Satellite Corporation (COMSAT) during which he achieved a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from George Washington University under the Korean G.I. bill.

He traveled extensively with COMSAT assisting the implementation of satellite earth stations in a number of worldwide locations. In 1969 he joined the Mitre Corporation with which he stayed until 1987 working on engineering related projects with the U.S. Government transportation department and finally the defense department’s worldwide communications systems. After that he worked two more smaller technical companies in the same line of business.

After his retirement in 1995 he tutored high school students in mathematics, worked as a volunteer at the International Arrivals Information Desk at Dulles Airport. He worked on Pat Buchannan 1996 presidential campaign at the headquarters in McLean VA where he worked as a volunteer. He participated in local politics and served as the treasurer of the Peter Muhlenberg Memorial Foundation which implemented the statue and memorial on Connecticut Avenue in Washington D.C.

In his leisure, he authored the book Astronomical Cycles and Human Affairs which addressed the effect of the disruption of interplanetary electromagnetic fields on human affairs. His interest included mathematics and music of which he spent time composing sketches of orchestral works. He was a devoted reader and read widely. He enjoyed gardening and maintain the two acre property and played tennis and rode his bicycle for exercise.

Together with his devoted and loving wife Margitta of 63 years, they raised family of three sons; Fredrick Augustus, John Christopher, and Henry Francis. He has seven grandsons, John, Mark, Matthew, Pete, Robbie, Eric, and Michael and a granddaughter Sarah.

He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran in McLean VA, American Legion post 180 of Vienna VA; the republican party of Virginia, and senior life member of the IEEE. He was a direct descendant of Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg, considered the patriarch of the Lutheran church in North America and Peter Muhlenberg, a revolutionary war major general. Dave was a member of the Society of Cincinnati and he will be interred in Arlington Cemetery.

A memorial service will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church at 2589 Chain Bridge Rd. Vienna, VA 22181 on November 1st, 2025 at 11:00 AM – 2:00PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Historic Trappe Organization or to the Shepherds Center of Vienna.