CAMDEN — Arnold Beavers Whitaker, 93, of Camden, passed away July 19, 2018 at Sussman House, from complications of Alzheimer's and cancer.

He was born May 17, 1925 in Westfield, NJ to William G. H. Whitaker, Jr. and Wava (Beavers) Whitaker.

He graduated from the Pingry School in 1943 and entered the Navy V-12 officer training program at MIT, graduating with a B.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering. It was in Boston that he met his wife, Nancy Neare Phillips of Montclair, NJ, a student at Wellesley College. They were married on June 26, 1948.

After leaving the Navy, he and Nancy moved to Bridgeport, CT where they both worked at Chance Vought Aircraft. In 1949, Arnold took a position at Grumman Corporation in Bethpage, Long Island, NY where he worked for the next 35 years. He and Nancy moved to Levittown, NY – the newly developed planned community for returning World War II veterans before moving to Syosset, NY shortly after the birth of their first child Gail. Their sons, Steven and Jeffrey were born in Syosset. Arnold earned his MS in applied mathematics at Adelphi University in 1956.

Arnold worked on many exciting projects at Grumman. Most notably, he was the lead systems project engineer for Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) program from 1962-1966, then became test team leader for the LEM, which successfully landed men on the moon in 1969. He was consulted by NASA during the Apollo 13 mission, when the LEM was used as a lifeboat to return four astronauts safely to earth after a fire broke out 200,000 miles into the voyage. During his long career at Grumman, he also worked on the Eagle Missile program, the F-14 fighter program, the Space Shuttle studies program, and the X-29 experimental aircraft program.

After retiring in 1984, Arnold and Nancy moved to Tenants Harbor, to be near their daughter, Gail and husband, Fred Ribeck of West Rockport, and their grandchildren Hannah and Noah. Arnold enjoyed woodworking, boating on the St. George River and Penobscot Bay, digging clams on the mudflats, tending his vegetable garden, and walking with his golden retriever around the peninsula. He was a founding member and volunteer with the Georges River Land Trust where he served as treasurer for several years. Arnold had a restless mind and loved learning. He also loved the outdoors, especially on the water surrounding Long Island, Cape Cod and the mid-coast Maine – where he spent many days sailing and fishing with his children and grandchildren.

In addition to his wife of 70 years, Nancy, he is survived by his daughter, Gail (Fred) Ribeck of West Rockport; son, Jeffrey (Patricia) Whitaker of Boulder, Colorado; as well as four grandchildren, Noah (Danielle Jerdee) Ribeck of Oakland, California; Hannah (Colin) Malone of Hope; and Laura and Joshua Whitaker of Boulder, Colorado, as well as a great-grandson Gene Jerdee Ribeck (and a Malone grandchild expected soon).

Arnold was predeceased by his parents, his sister Harriet, and his son Steven.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Georges River Land Trust or Sussman House.

Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.