Christa H Mueller
Christa Huchthausen Mueller, of Williamsburg, Virginia, died peacefully at home on December 5, 2023. She was 86.
Christa was well traveled, having lived throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. Born in 1937, the eldest of 3 children to Walther A. and Katherine Doederlein Huchthausen in Seymour Indiana, she was the daughter of a country preacher who became an Army Chaplain during and after World War II. She attended Mary Washington College and the University of Maryland at Munich, and in 1958, married a career Army Engineer Officer, Frederick “Fritz” W. Mueller, Jr. She moved 37 times and was always ready to do it again. Following Fritz’s retirement from the Army, Christa became and remained a resident of the Tidewater area of Virginia for over 40 years. She spent countless hours volunteering in her church, a neighborhood garden club and most notably at the Jamestown Settlement, followed by over 24 years for the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation at Historic Jamestowne. It was there that she realized her dream of working as an archaeologist.
During their retirement Christa and Fritz cruised to Alaska, journeyed to Spain, trekked through the Southwest Native American ruins and visited their children and grandchildren. Christa and Fritz spent many summers at their cottage on Frye Island, Maine, a favorite location for gatherings of friends and family. Christa trained as an “emergency responder” for the Island volunteer fire department, cataloged plants, enjoyed the wildlife, canoed on the lake listening to the loons and volunteered with Fritz at yet another archaeological dig in Popham Beach, Maine. Christa was a much-loved daughter, sister, Army wife, mother, aunt, and grandmother. She was an artist, a writer, a voracious reader, an historian, an archaeologist, a volunteer, a faithful Christian, a traveler, and a naturalist who loved the outdoors, the American West, Native American heritage… and conversation.
Christa was predeceased in death by her husband of 56 years, COL USA (RET) Frederick (Fritz) W. Mueller, Jr in 2014, and by her brother CAPT USN (RET) Peter A. Huchthausen in 2008. She is survived by her four children Frederick (Fritz) W. III of Bali, Indonesia (Maureen Whitehouse of Cambridge, MA), COL USA (RET) Peter W. of Burke, VA (Suzanne), Anna M. Branner of Fredericksburg, VA (Gregory), Christopher A. of Lindale, GA (Mary Helen), five grandchildren Merete, Maeve, Katelyn, Matthew and Alexander, as well as her younger sister Katherine “Annie” H. Ekman of Waynesboro, VA (COL USA (RET) Michael E. Ekman) and sisterin-law, Kathleen M. Huchthausen of Hiram, ME, six nieces and nephews, and several cousins including Cathy Sieving of West Saint Paul, MN. A memorial service will be held on March 20, 2024 at 2:00 at Patriots Colony in the Grand Hall, Patriots Colony Drive, Williamsburg, VA. Colorful attire is encouraged!
Burial at Arlington National Cemetery will be announced at a later date. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation at Historic Jamestowne, 1365 Colonial Parkway, Jamestown, VA 23081 or online at historicjamestowne.org. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.bucktroutfuneralhome.net.