Vladimir “Val” Lechmanik, a retired electrical engineer who had been a civilian employee of the Navy Department, died June 14 at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring from kidney disease.

The longtime Kingsville resident was 86.

The son of Peter Lechmanik, a coal miner, and Antoinette Orynik, a homemaker, Vladimir Lechmanik was born and raised in Peckville, Pa., as one of the family's 11 children. He graduated in 1946 from Blakely High School.

He enlisted in the Army in 1946 and attained the rank of sergeant major. He served with an ordnance battalion during the Korean War and was discharged in 1951.

Mr. Lechmanik attended Keystone Junior College from 1952 to 1954, and received a bachelor's degree in 1956 in electrical engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

He began his career in 1956 at Bendix Radio Corp. in Towson, where he worked in radar, communications and satellite programs.

In 1962, he joined the Navy Department and worked with air traffic control, radar and communications systems. He retired in 1988 but continued for another decade serving as a consultant to the Navy and local companies.

Mr. Lechmanik, who was a world traveler, was a history buff and sports fan. He also enjoyed gardening and cooking.

“His spaghetti sauce, fried potatoes and soups were fantastic, and anything he barbecued,” said a daughter, Valerie Brockmeyer of Joppa. “They were so good he could have opened a restaurant.”

He was a member of the American Legion.

Mr. Lechmanik was a communicant of St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church, 8020 Bradshaw Road, Kingsville, where a Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. today.

In addition to his daughter, Mr. Lechmanik is survived by his wife of 57 years, the former Loretta Hubal; a son, John Lechmanik of Arlington, Va.; two other daughters, Deborah Brockmeyer of Joppa and Susan Barr of Ashburn, Va.; two brothers, David Lechmanik of Seattle and John Lechmanik of California; and five grandchildren.

—?Frederick N. Rasmussen