1932
James
2020
James Preston Farrar, Sr.
May 23, 1932 — October 8, 2020
J. Preston Farrar, Sr., 88, of the Summit, died on October 8, 2020 at The Summit, Lynchburg, VA. He was born on May 23, 1932 to the late John and Lillie Farrar. Mr. Farrar was preceded in death by his brother Jack Farrar and his first wife Kathryn “Kitty” Farrar.
He is survived by his second wife, Gloria Farrar; two sons and their families, Steven and wife, Suzanne, their son Aeden and daughter Taylor of Aurora, IL; Jay (James) and wife, Donna, and son Jason of Orange, VA. He is also survived by four step-children; five step-grandchildren and two step-great grandchildren.
Mr. Farrar graduated from E.C. Glass High School and served in the U.S. armed forces during the Korean War, flying with a seaplane squadron out of Bermuda. He graduated from Lynchburg College with a degree in Physics and Mathematics and did graduate work in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Virginia.
He worked as a Nuclear Physicist at the Babcock & Wilcox Company and held Senior Reactor Operator licenses on four critical experiments, a one-Megawatt Research Reactor, and a six-Megawatt Test Reactor. He participated in several major projects and went on board the nuclear ship, the NS Savannah, and helped supervise the start-up of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Reactor. He left B&W in 1966 and went to the University of Virginia where he was Reactor Administrator at UVA’s Nuclear Research Reactor Facility for over 31 years.
He belonged to The American Nuclear Society and was a member of the ANS-15 committee that developed and wrote standards for the operation of Research Reactors throughout the country. He was also a member of the Virginia section and the ANS. He was a member of the Euclid Christian Church.
Visitation will be held at Tharp Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. A graveside service will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at Holly Memorial Gardens in Charlottesville, VA.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
He is survived by his second wife, Gloria Farrar; two sons and their families, Steven and wife, Suzanne, their son Aeden and daughter Taylor of Aurora, IL; Jay (James) and wife, Donna, and son Jason of Orange, VA. He is also survived by four step-children; five step-grandchildren and two step-great grandchildren.
Mr. Farrar graduated from E.C. Glass High School and served in the U.S. armed forces during the Korean War, flying with a seaplane squadron out of Bermuda. He graduated from Lynchburg College with a degree in Physics and Mathematics and did graduate work in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Virginia.
He worked as a Nuclear Physicist at the Babcock & Wilcox Company and held Senior Reactor Operator licenses on four critical experiments, a one-Megawatt Research Reactor, and a six-Megawatt Test Reactor. He participated in several major projects and went on board the nuclear ship, the NS Savannah, and helped supervise the start-up of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Reactor. He left B&W in 1966 and went to the University of Virginia where he was Reactor Administrator at UVA’s Nuclear Research Reactor Facility for over 31 years.
He belonged to The American Nuclear Society and was a member of the ANS-15 committee that developed and wrote standards for the operation of Research Reactors throughout the country. He was also a member of the Virginia section and the ANS. He was a member of the Euclid Christian Church.
Visitation will be held at Tharp Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. A graveside service will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at Holly Memorial Gardens in Charlottesville, VA.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
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