Palmer Newcombe Stearns Jr.

Palmer Newcombe Stearns, Jr., 90, of McLean, VA, died peacefully on October 29, 2023 in McLean, Virginia. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Patricia Flint Stearns; daughter Emmy Nadiga, and son Palmer (Amy) Newcombe Stearns, III; grandchildren Tara Nadiga, Jayant Nadiga, Samant Nadiga, Jacob Stearns, and Lucas Stearns Mr. Stearns was born on November 7, 1932 in Washington, D.C. to the late Lucille Williams Stearns and Palmer Newcombe Stearns, Sr. He graduated from Culpeper High School in 1949 and Episcopal High School in 1951, where he played football, baseball and soccer. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and later took multiple classes toward a Masters degree in Engineering Administration at George Washington University. He served and was a paratrooper in the U.S Army and was based at Fort Benning, Georgia before being stationed in Korea until his honorable discharge with the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1958. His professional career as a Civil Engineer included the Virginia Department of Highways, U.S. Bureau of Public Roads, and the U.S. Agency for International Development where he was Chief Transportation Engineer, Chief African Bureau Engineer, and Acting Director of Engineering. Following his retirement in 1984 he became U.S. Director of Construction Operations for Taylor Woodrow International Construction of the U.K. He was an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, General Contractors of America, and American Consulting Engineers’ Council and served on several committees of the Highway Research Board and National Association of County Engineers. He was devoted to his family and loved playing with his grandchildren. No funeral service will be held, his immediate family will be having a private celebration of his life in the near future. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.murphy-fh.com for the Stearns family.