Graveside Service: 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Location: Peninsula Memorial Park
Samuel Arundale Tatum, 85, of Newport News, VA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 18, 2022 in his home of 61 years with his daughter, Sarah by his side. He was born in Charlottesville, VA to George Marvin and Margaret Arundale Tatum. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1959 with a BS in Physics and started working as an electrical engineer at Newport News Shipbuilding that same year. In 1963 the shipyard sent him to the University of Virginia to complete his Masters in Electrical Engineering. He quickly rose to become the head of the Engineering Technical Department and was later promoted to the role of Program Support Manager for the Seawolf submarine Forward End Design. Towards the end of his career at NNS he was the manager of CAD/CAM Design for the development of workstation Vivid, one of the first 3-D ship modeling software programs. After 37 years he retired from the yard and joined the Global Research and Development company as the Director of Operations to transfer 3D modeling technology to commercial shipbuilders. He continued to work at GRAD for 9 years until he decided it was time to retire for good.
In 1960 through his mother’s arrangement, he met the love of his life, Joan Schafer and they married a year later. After completing his Masters, they bought a house on Lucas Creek where they would start a family. Together they shared her love for art and his love for sailing, and they were very happy. Sadly, his forever love passed away in March of 2000. He volunteered many hours at his church and at Five Loaves Food pantry. He was a kind and generous man giving his time and resources to things he believed in. He spent the last few years of his life admiring his view of the Lucas Creek valley, enjoying all of nature’s wonder.
The family would like to thank all of his wonderful caregivers who helped keep him in his home until the end, especially Althea and his hospice nurse, Krista.
Mr. Tatum is survived by his 2 children, Sarah Tatum Spata and her husband, Michael and George Walter Tatum and his wife, Wendy with her sons, Angel and Jacob; daughters-in-law, Lori Tatum and Brandie Clark and his 7 grandchildren, Elizabeth, Ryleigh, Samuel, Makennah and Hallie Tatum, and Samantha and Emma Spata. He also leaves behind his furry companion cat “Who Who”, who will miss him dearly and his grandpup, Winnie “the dog with the pom-pom tail”.
A Graveside Service will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at Peninsula Memorial Park by Rev. Timothy Luken. Please enter at the Nettles Drive gate. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Five Loaves Food Pantry, 13813 Warwick Blvd. Building E, Newport News, VA 23602, or the Cat Corner, www.thecatcorner.com/donate. Arrangements by Weymouth Funeral Home.
