Rudolph J. (Rudy) Lukas, 91, beloved husband and father, and resident of Boothbay Harbor, died Dec. 30 at St. Andrews Hospital, Boothbay Harbor, following a fall in his home.
Mr. Lukas was born June 23, 1916, in Schenectady, N.Y., the son of Stanislaw and Jennia Lukas.
At the outbreak of WWII he was employed at the Carney, N.J. shipyards, building Liberty Ships. He returned to Schenectady, N.Y. toward the end of the war to work in the ordnance division of the American Locomotive Company (ALCO), developing specialty-welding techniques for the production of M3 and M4 Sherman Tanks, and training the local force of Rosie the Riveters who worked on their production.
Following the war, Mr. Lukas moved to ALCO’s locomotive division as a welding engineer developing specialty welding processes, an assignment that led to frequent travel to the Middle East as an international representative. Later he worked for the ALCO Thermal Products Division, Dunkirk, N.Y., also developing specialty-welding techniques for high-pressure vessels.
Rudy retired to Boothbay Harbor from General Electric in 1980, following 30 years of employment with ALCO and 10 years with General Electric. During his term of employment, he served as president of the American Welding Society’s (then) Penn-Ohio District.
His hobbies included cabinetmaking and boating, and he was elected Commodore of the Schenectady Yacht Club in 1982. He was a 32nd Degree Mason in the Buekendaal Lodge No. 915, F. & A. M., Scotia, N.Y. Rudy loved to build furniture for family and friends, and mentor anyone who wanted to learn the craft. With his wife, Margaret, he built several family homes, and gave generously of his time and building skills to friends and neighbors in need.
He is predeceased by his two brothers, Gerard and Stephen Lukas of Scotia, N.Y.
He is survived by his wife of 67½ years, Margaret Schell Lukas of Boothbay Harbor; son, Wayne Lukas and wife Barbara Tidwell Lukas of Scotia, N.Y.; daughter, Karen Lukas of Pittsburgh, Penn.; and granddaughters, Katie Lei Lukas and Olga Alexandra Lukas of Scotia, N.Y.
A memorial service for family and friends will be held in Scotia, N.Y. in the spring.
Should friends desire, memorial donations may be made in Mr. Lukas’ memory to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 7, Edgecomb, ME 04556.
Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons, Harrington and Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 975 Wiscasset Rd., Boothbay.