TAPS in Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia, and a professional surveyor in West Virginia. He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the U.S. Golf Association, the board of trustees for Shenandoah University, the board of directors of First Bank and First National Corporation, and a member/owner of Jackson Chase Golf Club, LLC. He was a member of the Winchester Exchange Club, St. Paul Lutheran Church, the board of directors of Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, the board of directors and chairman of the Frederick County Community Development Association, a member/owner of First Valley Investments, LLC, a member/owner of Toms Brook L & I Company, LLC, a member/owner of Crystal Investments, LLC, a member of the board of directors of Blue Ridge Hospice, Inc., a board member and president of the Shenandoah County Homebuilders Association, a member of Dillons Run Conservation Club, LLC, and supporter of Young Life, and a member of the Boy Scouts of America and Shenandoah American Legion Post No. 77 in Strasburg. He was a helicopter pilot who owned and operated his own helicopter. He is survived by his wife, Shirley White Maddox of Strasburg; a son, Maj. Deacon Maddox ’93, and his wife, Eun-Jin, of Hambach, Germany; a daughter, Sandra Barton, and her husband, Bruce, of Ellicott City, Maryland; a brother, Steven A. Maddox of Olympia, Washington; a sister, Margaret Rec of Stephens City; and two grandchildren, Abby Barton and Hank Barton.
Michael J. Baxter ’71 Lt. Col. Michael John Baxter ’71, USA (Ret), of Fairfax Station, Virginia, died on Jan. 1, 2008. He was 58. Baxter matriculated from Pearl City, Hawaii, and held a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from VMI, where he was a member of the Rifle and Pistol Club. He held a master of arts degree from Texas Tech. He served in the U.S. Army from 1971-94,
attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was awarded the Air Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, two Army Commendation Medals and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Following his retirement from the Army he spent 11 years working as a director in Sprint’s Senior Federal Program. He mentored through the Warren County Coalition, served as a deacon and teacher at Marlow Heights Baptist Church, and tutored math at Randolph-Macon Academy. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn Coley Baxter of Fairfax Station; two sons, Adam M. Baxter of Alexandria, Virginia, and Ryan M. Baxter, his wife, Ana, and their son, “Junior,” of Virginia Beach, Virginia; his parents, Norma and Art Baxter and siblings Patty Gutzeit of Hilo, Hawaii, and Cyndi Denomie and Dennis Baxter of Oahu; and several nieces and nephews.
Bruce R. Chambers ’73 Bruce Rentschlor Chambers ’73 of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, died on Nov. 19, 2007. He was 56. Chambers matriculated from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI, where he was a member of the football team for four years and a letterman for three years. He earned a master’s degree from West Virginia University. He served in the U.S. Army from 1973-83, attaining the rank of captain. An environmental engineer, he worked on numerous water and sewer projects. He was also the former company commander for the Brownsville Reserve Unit, a Sewage Enforcement Officer and a continuing education instructor for operator training. A Eucharistic minister, he was a former finance council chairman at Saint Therese Church. He was a member of the Uniontown Lions Club and the Geibel Core Development Team. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Mar-
ian Gaydos Chambers of Uniontown; two sons, Brian Chambers and Benjamin Chambers; a daughter, Katharine Chambers; two sisters, Sherri Bell and her husband, Jim, of New Castle, Indiana, and Barbara Olson and her husband, Bob, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; a sister-in-law, Amy Gehron Chambers of Pittsburgh; a brother-in-law, Dr. Joel Gaydos, and his wife, Dr. Charlotte Gaydos, of Bel Air, Maryland; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Michael J. Budler ’79 Michael Joseph Budler ’79 of Denver, Colorado, died on Jan. 10, 2008. He was 50. Budler matriculated from Plainfield, Illinois, and attended VMI for three years and three months. He was a D Company lieutenant and a member of the Cadet newspaper staff, the Glee Club and the Civil War Roundtable. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Lewis University in 1980. He was, at one time, a retail travel consultant with Travel by Dana in Englewood, Colorado. His club memberships included the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and he was a sergeant with the 1st Colorado Volunteer Infantry, Company D. He was a Civil War Living Historian. He is survived by his former wife, Jacqueline Ryan Budler; and two daughters, Jessilyn C. Budler and Johanna M. Budler.
John H. Camden III ’00 John Henry Camden III ’00 of Natural Bridge, Virginia, died on Dec. 2, 2007, in a single vehicle accident. He was 29. Camden matriculated from Lexington, Virginia. He is survived by his parents, Terrie Mitchell Barber of Roanoke and John Henry Camden; a sister, Lorrie Tyree, and her husband, Curtis, of Natural Bridge; his grandmother, Julie Moyer, and her husband, V. A. Moyer, of Waynesboro, Virginia; and an uncle, Dennis Mitchell, and his wife, Diane, and their son, Adam, of Salem, Virginia.
The Taps section of the VMI Alumni Review is researched and written by Kathryn A. Wise, vice president, The VMI Alumni Association. For those who wish to contact her, she may be reached via telephone at 800/444-1839 or by e-mail at kwise@vmiaa.org.
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