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FORESTER, DR. DONALD WAYNE (DON) - age 74, native of Knoxville, TN and resident of Springfield, VA for the past 42 years, passed away on Monday, August 29, 2011 at Sycamore Medical Center in Miamisburg, Ohio. Preceded in death by his father and mother, Charles Frederick Forester and Lillian Irene Keith Forester. Don is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Sherrena Florence Jones Forester, native of Coalfield, TN; two daughters, Julia Stapor (Kurt) of Springfield, VA, and Dr. Laura Hunt (Michael) of Franklin, TN; grandchildren Jennifer Sanders (Cody), Abigail Weikert, Alexander Weikert, Nicholas Weikert, Sebastian Weikert, and Michaela Hunt. Don is also survived by two sisters, Carolyn Dodson and Sandra Moore, both of Knoxville, TN; brother-in-law, Ben Jones of Charlotte, NC, and sister-in-law, Jenny Lester of the Knoxville area; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends. Don was a member of Westwood Baptist Church in Springfield, VA for 41 years where he served as a deacon and Bible teacher. He was a faithful advocate for the elderly and a great encourager of young people. With his wife, Sheena, he shared an avid passion for Tennessee Volunteer athletics. Don was a graduate of Rule High School in Knoxville and received a BA degree in Physics from Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, and MS and Ph.D. degrees in Physics from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Don was formerly employed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and was previously an Assistant Professor of Physics at The University of Nebraska and The Georgia Institute of Technology. After 35 years of service, Don retired from the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C. He was a highly acclaimed scientist, inventor, and writer, holding five patents for inventions, while presenting or publishing more than one-hundred fifty professional papers. He was one of only seventy-five recipients of the NRL's 75th Year Recognition for Innovation as well as receiving the Navy's prestigious Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1999. He was a member of several professional organizations, including Sigma Pi Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi honorary societies, Sigma Xi, the American Physics Society, and the Berea College Alumni Association. A visitation and funeral services for Dr. Donald Wayne Forester was held on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at Westwood Baptist Church in Springfield, VA. Local visitation will be held from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at Rose Mortuary, Broadway Chapel at 1421 N. Broadway Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. with a Memorial Service at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Mark Price and Dr. Beth Toler officiating. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, 3500 Tazewell Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions in honor of Don be made to Westwood Baptist Church, 8200 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, VA 22152 or to the charity of choice. Online condolences may be made and Obituary viewed at www.rosemortuary.com
Published in Knoxville News Sentinel on September 8, 2011