MICHAEL PACKARD

1947 - 2021

PACKARD Michael John Packard (Age 74) Passed away in his sleep on November 9, 2021, at Inova Fairfax Hospital due to preexisting illnesses. He is survived by his beloved wife, Kay Summers Packard; son Christopher Hiluard Packard, of Manassas, Virginia; daughter Katherine Summers Packard, of Sterling, Virginia; and his sister, Bonnie Rae Packard, of Azusa, California. Mike was born on October 25, 1947, in the Los Angeles area to the late James and Rae Packard. Growing up, he was a nerd who signed up for summer school for fun. He also played tennis and developed a lifelong love of Dr Pepper and donuts. His mother bred show cats during his childhood, and he loved and owned cats throughout his life. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1969, where he learned incredibly colorful language that he passed on to his children, he fought in the Vietnam War aboard a submarine, which was unfortunate because Mike was prone to seasickness. After he completed his active duty service, he enrolled in Duke University to pursue graduate studies in military history. He also pursued a tall coed with great legs, who agreed to marry him after a short courtship. Mike and Kay married on January 17, 1976, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mike enlisted in the Naval Reserves to help support his family, retiring in 1993 with the rank of Captain. After son Chris was born, the family moved to Northern Virginia, where Mike began working for the federal government as both a contractor and an employee. His expansive vocabulary and knack for using words that no one else knew earned him the privilege of working on many proposals and deliverables throughout his federal career. After he retired in 2012, he quickly settled into retirement, spending his days in his favorite armchair, reading, eating Dove chocolates, and watching absolutely horrible movies, to his family's dismay. He and wife Kay also took several amazing trips, including tours of Great Britain and Italy and a cross-country road trip. Mike had visited 49 states, plus Puerto Rico, but he had no desire to visit Alaska to make it an even 50. Mike loved embarrassing his children and annoying wait staff by ordering his favorite pasta dishes at restaurants in terrible Italian accents. He was incredibly intelligent, good at just about everything, an amazing gift giver, an honorable man, and the best husband, father and brother. The Packard family invites those who wish to remember Mike to his memorial service at Messiah Methodist Church in Springfield, Virginia, on November 20 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mike's name are encouraged at the Humane Society of Fairfax County.The Packard family invites those who wish to remember Mike to his memorial service at Messiah Methodist Church in Springfield, Virginia, on November 20 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mike's name are encouraged at the Humane Society of Fairfax County.