VIENNA, Va. — Bob Lunn, 84, of Vienna, Va., a retired Army lieutenant general who specialized in aeronautics and artillery air defense, died Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., of complications from a lung infection.
Robert Joseph Lunn was a native of Spring Valley, Ill., and the son of Marcellina Chiarella and Thomas Lunn. He was a graduate of Hall High School and a 1950 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. After attending the University of Illinois his freshman year pursuing a medical degree, he received a nomination to West Point from Sen. Everett Dirksen. Bob played football at Hall, U of I and at Army under Col. "Red" Blaik and offensive line coach Vince Lombardi. During his four years at Army, he played with the national ranked football team in two of the greatest college football games ever, the "game of the century" versus Notre Dame at Yankee stadium, a 0-0 tie, in 1946 and the 35-0 win over Fordham in 1949 referenced by Blaik as "one of the best games anyone ever saw." He received a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Arizona in 1963.
He served 37 years in the military, rising to the rank of a three star general officer. His military career included duty in Korea, Japan and Europe, and at several locations around the United States. His awards included the Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal and two awards of the Army Commendation Medal. He settled in the Washington, D.C., area in 1978. After retiring from the Army in 1983, Gen. Lunn worked 21 years for Science Applications International Corp., where his specialties included aeronautical engineering and managing technical teams.
Loving husband of 61 years after marriage in Spring Valley to Louise Herrmann (daughter of Felicia Piotrowski and John Herrmann) now of Vienna, Va.; devoted father of Robin L. Fradenburgh of Austin, Texas, Robert J. (Patricia) Lunn of Houston and Sean T. (Abby) Lunn of Charlottesville, Va.; and cherished grandfather of Sara (Jacob) Stephenson, and Marcella, Casey, Mason, Parker and Caroline Lunn. He is also survived by his brother Lee and his wife Barb of Ladd.
He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Oct. 3 with services starting at 12:45 p.m. at the Old Post Chapel followed by the funeral with full military honors and a reception from 2:15 to 4:15 p.m. at the Fort Meyer Officer's Club.
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