Eugene W. Stubbs, 78, a retired Defense Department procurement officer and analyst, died May 12 at his Vienna home, with family at his side.
Stubbs was born in Stevenson, Ala., in 1927. In the early 1940s, he moved with his mother, the late Mary Lee Stubbs, to a Navajo Indian reservation in Baca, N.M., where she taught school for the Indian children and families. It was at this time that he developed what was to become a life-long love and appreciation of American Indian culture and the Southwestern United States. He became known for his hand-made Indian jewelry and silverwork, winning many awards for his original works.
In 1945, Stubbs moves to Washington, D.C., where he graduated from Central High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He served in Germany during the closing stages of World War II and returned to Washington, D.C., at the end of his service. He attended George Washington University and met his wife of 54 years, Shirley Mabry Stubbs.
After graduation, Stubbs worked as a photographer for the State Department, doing what was to become another of his many interests. He graduated from Benjamin Franklin University with a master's degree in accounting and went on to spend 31 years in government service. After retiring in 1982 from DARPA as chief of programs and analysis division, he operated his own consulting firm for 10 years, advising on defense research and development procurement and management.
Stubbs was active as a deacon in his church as well as with numerous community organizations. He served as president of the Wexford Community Association, where a park was named in his honor. He also served as president of the S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. His love of travel led to 10 years as an officer in a variety of positions with the Airstream travel trailer club, ultimately holding the office of international president of the W.B.C.C.I. from 1994-95.
Stubbs is survived by his wife, Shirley; his son Brian; and four grandchildren, Shannon, Ryan, Sean and Devin.