Walter R. Tackett, NSA technician

Walter R. Tackett, a retired National Security Agency technician and Vietnam War veteran, died June 18 from cancer at his Dorsey home, where he was born and raised and spent his entire life. He was 69.

Walter Ray Tackett was the son of James A. Tackett Sr., a plumber, and Evelyn Tackett, a homemaker.

After graduating in 1964 from Arundel High School, he was drafted into the Army. He served in Vietnam with the 25th Infantry Division as a field radio repairman.

After he was discharged with the rank of sergeant, he enrolled at the DeVry Technical Institute in Columbus, Ohio, where he studied electrical engineering.

Mr. Tackett worked for the NSA for 30 years before retiring in 2001. “All he would say about his work was that he was a technician,” said his daughter, Marcella Beth Anderson of Hagerstown.

He enjoyed golfing and working in his vegetable garden. He was also an accomplished woodworker.

“He had a sign over his backyard garage that said ‘Pop Pop’s Workshop,’” said Ms. Anderson.

His wife of 40 years, the former Dejana Paola Giachino, a Howard County public schools teacher, died in 2012.

Mr. Tackett was a member of Dorsey Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 6951 Dorsey Road, Elkridge, where a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. July 13.

In addition to his daughter, Mr. Tackett is survived by his son, Nicholas James Tackett of Glen Burnie; two brothers, James A. Tackett Jr. of Milford, Del., and Raymond Tackett of Austin, Texas; two sisters, Ada Watkins of Edgewood and Sylvia Glant of York, Pa.; and eight grandchildren.