Richard T. Byerly November 22, 1922-February 24, 2011
Richard Taylor Byerly, 88, died February 24, 2011 at Elmcroft, State College, PA He was born November 22, 1922 in Laverne, OK, the son of the late Rev. Leslie and Hazel Taylor Byerly. His only sibling, Mary Hecht died in 2004.
His early years were spent in Texas, graduating from high school in Phoenix, AZ. He attended Texas A & M University, enlisting in the Marine Corps during World War II. He attained the rank of Captain by war's end and returned to Texas A & M for his B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He continued his graduate studies for his M.S. and Ph. D. at the University of Pittsburgh. He was a Registered Engineer in PA, a member of IEEE and Signa XI.
He retired as Vice President of Power Systems Planning at Westinghouse Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA after 40 years of service. He also was sent on special projects, as advisor, to power companies in Bagdad, Iraq and Hawaii. He taught Electrical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State. He is a published author of numerous professional articles related to his expertise in electrical generation and distribution.
He was married to Sona Bostonian of Summerville, MA, who died in 1985 of A.L.S. They were the parents of Wesley O. Byerly of Richfield, CT, (wife, Zulaika) and their daughters, Taylor and Shannon; Douglas T. Byerly died in his youth, and Steven T. Byerly of Carroltown, TX, his sons, Jason and Brandon Byerly.
He is survived by his spouse, Mary-Frances Gregory (Molly) whom he married in a Unitarian ceremony October 4th, 1987, in the Fireside Room of the Nittany Lion Inn.
Step daughters, Linna Muschlitz of State College and Barbara Seltzer of Lutherville, MD and her daughter Jennifer Seltzer of Carlsbad, CA, also survive.
Dick Byerly was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County, PA and Vero Beach, FL. He was a runner, a tennis player, a cyclist, a ballroom dancer, a reader, a researcher and enjoyed daily 3 mile walks around the Penn State campus.
Richard had registered with Humanity Gifts as his end of life choice. He wished to contribute to medical science through teaching and research and selected Penn State Hershey Medical Center as the recipient. Memorial contributions may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County for the Building Fund.
Family and friends will be invited to come together in the Spring to share fellowship and memories of Dick Byerly.
A guestbook can be signed and condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com