Rudolph Charles 'Rudy' Beitzel Sr., 89

Rudolph Charles "Rudy" Beitzel Sr. of Salisbury died peacefully Friday, Jan. 19, 2007, in Genesis Healthcare, Salisbury. He was 89.

Mr. Beitzel was born July 23, 1917, in San Francisco, son of the late Peter and Maria Eish Beitzel, both immigrants from Germany and Hungary.

As a young man, he excelled in sports. He played baseball and football. He was a lifeguard at the New Jersey beaches and taught horseback riding. He loved the outdoors. In 1940, he met inventor Igor Sikorsky and under Sikorsky's leadership, became a team member in assembling the first helicopter.

Mr. Beitzel filmed the flight of the first helicopter with Sikorsky at the controls. This film and other photographs taken by him now reside in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

After his stint with Sikorsky Enterprises, he served with the U.S. Marines during World War II and then went to work at another airplane manufacturer, Luscom, in Trenton, N.J. Here he met Norma Niederer. They were married in 1943.

Mr. Beitzel spent most of his life in Titusville, N.J., where he worked in the Niederer family business, Egomatic. With his own hands and his wife by his side, he built a stone home, with each stone hand picked from a nearby mountain, carved a lake, and created a park-like setting. He spent much of his free time tinkering on this farm and in his extensive workshop. His children recall that he could fix anything.

He was also active in youth activities. His strong athletic abilities and belief in education made him a role model. He coached midget football and for several years was the president of the Hopewell Township Little League. Many children, including his own, benefited from his time and efforts.

In 1985, Mr. Beitzel and his wife moved to Princess Anne to be close to their children and grandchildren. They had many wonderful retirement years where they traveled extensively and participated in clubs such as AARP, Elks and Ruritan. After Norma's death, he moved to Salisbury's Pine Bluff Village, where for eight years he was lovingly cared for by MAC, the area agency on aging. He also became involved in the Lower Delaware Autism Foundation in honor of his grandson, Brian.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Norma Niederer Beitzel, in 1993; and his brother, Peter in 2006.

He is survived by a daughter and a son-in-law, Carolyn Beitzel and Charles Stegman of Salisbury; a son and a daughter-in-law, Rudy Jr. and Beth Beitzel of Georgetown, Del.; his grandchildren include, Neil Beitzel Stegman, Brian Beitzel and Katie Beitzel.

A celebration of life service will be 5 p.m. Thursday in Holloway Funeral Home, Salisbury, friends may call one hour earlier.

Burial will be private in Titusville, at a later date.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Lower Delaware Autism Foundation, 33815 Clay Road, Lewes, DE 19958; or MAC, Inc. c/o Peggy Bradford, 1504 Riverside Drive, Salisbury, MD 21801-6740.

Arrangements by Holloway Funeral Home, 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury.