Posted on 12/18/2018
RANDELL HUNT PROTHRO (Age 96) CAPTAIN US Navy (Ret) Died peacefully at home on December 11, 2018 in Chevy Chase, MD. Born in Shreveport, LA, to Claude Blanchard and Virginia Peyre Prothro, he is survived by his wife of 71 years Nancy; his sister Emily Van Horne and brother Carleton Prothro (Lois); his seven children Hunt Prothro, Nancy Arbuthnot (Stephen), Robin Prothro (John Wogan), Laurie Prothro (John Kornfeld), Lynn House (Alex), Wendy Howard (Jay), and Kimberly Williams (Richard); 19 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and longtime member of the family, David Sivitz. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy on June 6, 1944, a year early, as the young Class of 1945 was rushed off to war and he to his first duty on the USS Hornet. After the war, Prothro earned his wings, flying more than thirty different planes in his career including the FH Phantom, F2H Banshee, F3H Demon, and the F4 Phantom. He was a test pilot in squadron VX3, commanding officer of VF151, and Air Operations Officer on the USS Hancock. In 1967 he retired. Forever passionate about the Navy, he once said he would re-enlist for another tour "at the drop of a hat." After leaving the service, he worked for General Dynamics, assisting in the design of what became the F-16, then founded a consulting company from which he retired in 1992. He then spent many years volunteering, running investment clubs, hunting water fowl, working in his garden, and visiting children and grandchildren who, he once noted, guaranteed him "a small measure of immortality." A great storyteller all his life, wherever he went, he could inevitably be found recounting tales to a riveted crowd. Despite a stroke that sidelined him nearly eight years ago, he maintained his role as master and commander over his household of devoted caregivers, friends and family, sharing his indomitable strength and spirit with all those surrounding him. A memorial service will be held at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, MD, in January 2019. An avid outdoorsman and nature lover, memorial donations can be made in his name to the Audubon Naturalist Society, 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 (https://anshome.org and follow prompts to Donate>Tribute Gifts).
Published in The Washington Post on Dec. 15, 2018