The Oklahoma City-born Deatherage entered the world on February 3, 1931 as the son of Pentecostal preacher John Edward Deatherage and homemaker Bessie Deatherage. Despite humble beginnings, his interest in academia, notably philosophy, religions and languages began to take hold in middle school, where he met some destined-to-become lifelong friends.
The Oklahoma City-born Deatherage entered the world on February 3, 1931 as the son of Pentecostal preacher John Edward Deatherage and homemaker Bessie Deatherage. Despite humble beginnings, his interest in academia, notably philosophy, religions and languages began to take hold in middle school, where he met some destined-to-become lifelong friends.
His path to higher learning was paved by winning the competitive Banning Scholarship, which paid for two years of Oklahoma City University. He transferred to the University of Oklahoma, where he graduated with a degree in French in 1954. He went on to the University of Southern California and graduated with distinction in International Relations.
He was first in class at the Army Language School in Monterrey, California. He was also a graduate of the U.S. Army Russian Institute in Oberammergau, Germany.
While at University of Oklahoma, Mr. Deatherage was president of the French Club, vice-president of the Spanish Club, and he earned a Phi Beta Kappa key.
Mr. Deatherage's book, penned while at the Russian Institute, "Soviet Surnames: A Handbook," was an incalculably valuable asset for the United States in their efforts to win the Cold War. He later wrote the "Russian-English Dictionary of Islamic Terms" as a valued employee at the Language Research Center (LRC). He's also the co-author/editor of "Macedonian-English Military Dictionary" and the "Albanian-English Military Dictionary."
He worked as a linguist and senior linguist at the National Security Agency for forty years. Later, he became a language test developer for less commonly taught languages at the Language Research Institute, such as Shona, Oromo and Yoruba. It's there he met, mentored and collaborated with a talented staff of language experts from all over the world. His immersion in this truly international workspace brought boundless joy to his task-driven missions.
Mr. Deatherage was also revered for his eternal optimism and kindness.
When he transitioned into retired life at the Vantage House retirement community in Columbia, he got involved in resident governmental affairs and became known for his welcoming, gentlemanly presence.
And while much of his professional life had to be shielded from his family for reasons of national security, they are in awe at the accolades that are pouring in from many of his coworkers in the field.
He was an unheralded Cold War hero, and even if the world knew of his accomplishments, he would remain hopelessly modest.
Mr. Deatherage is survived by his devoted wife, and in later life while at the retirement community Vantage House, caregiver and advocate, Hildegard (Fischer) Deatherage, his son Erik Deatherage (and life partner Jennifer Anderson Linne) and adored granddaughter Frances Hildegard Deatherage of Fargo, ND. He also leaves behind nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved: Dwight Deatherage, Cheryl Griffin, Lynn Smith, Dennis Deatherage, Gail Deatherage, Alan Ray Deatherage and Carolyn Sue Thompson. He was predeceased by nephew Dale and Richard Deatherage, as well as his brothers Virgil Valjean Wayman, Kenneth and William Burnie Deatherage.
Memorial services will be held at Oakland Manor, 5430 Vantage Point Rd, Columbia, MD 21044 on Saturday, August 24th at 1pm, where guests are invited to visit with the family at 12pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mr. Deatherage's honor to SOME So Others Might Eat, an interfaith homeless shelter in Washington, DC.
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