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 GLOUCESTER - Harvey Herring died peacefully at home in the company of family on Monday, July 2, 2012, of cancer and complications of diabetes. He was 73 years old.
He is survived by his adored wife of 54 years, Elaine, who lives in Gloucester. Also surviving are a son, Gary, and a daughter, Helen, both of whom are professionally employed locally and reside in Gloucester. And finally, there is Maxwell, an adopted dog from a local shelter, who has been a faithful companion.
Harvey graduated from Poquoson High School in 1957, with some academic and athletic distinction. He went on to receive a B.S. degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1962. He completed his formal education by earning a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering, also from Virginia Tech, in 1972.
Harvey began his professional career at NASA-Langley, spending 10 years there doing research on materials and structures. During this period, he was also recognized as a capable amateur athlete, competing locally in industrial league activity. He transferred to NASA Headquarters, in 1973, to serve a two-year tour as Assistant Executive Officer. He assisted the Deputy Administrator in managing the day-to-day operations of the agency. Following that, Harvey moved to NASA-Marshall, in Huntsville, Ala., to become Chief of their Metallic Materials Division. He spent five years there, supporting the development of the Space Shuttle propulsion systems. With the shuttle development effort winding down, Harvey left NASA for a couple of years to gain some experience in private industry. He became employed by Failure Analysis Associates, a company based in Palo Alto, Calif. The company offered consulting engineering and laboratory services worldwide. Harvey served as Director of their Houston office, traveling extensively as an investigator of industrial accidents. While there, he also became a licensed professional engineer, registered in Texas.
In 1982, Harvey was called back to NASA-Marshall in Huntsville, where he became Director of their Applications Payloads Office. This office focused on the development and flight of shuttle payloads oriented toward practical applications as opposed to pure science. These were concerned with the effects of the space environment on polymerization, solidification of alloys, and growth of semiconductor crystals. One experiment was carried out on sequential missions in the mid-deck. Three were flown in Spacelab, in the payload bay of STS-7. All were deemed successful.
Harvey retired from NASA, in 1984, with 20 years of service. He and Elaine relocated to south central Tennessee, near the town of Elkton. They founded a private company to continue Harvey's engineering practice. They also built a laboratory to do mechanical and structural engineering testing and materials analysis for commercial clients internationally. At that time, they offered the unique capability to do nonlinear finite element structural analysis, with embedded flaws, on a personal computer.
Also, during this time, Harvey owned and operated a substantial local ranch on which he and Elaine managed a commercial beef cattle operation, with a few horses thrown in. Work with big animals was both a rewarding and a humbling experience, but came with the opportunity to shoot, hunt, and fish extensively. It was also necessary to manage the populations of predatory wild animals, such as cougar, coyote, and poisonous snakes, who appeared regularly from the nearby hills, mean, hungry, and ready to fight. Harvey became more than good with a gun and a knife, and quick on his feet for a big man.
In 1997, it became obvious that Harvey's parents, Harvey and Mary Herring of Poquoson, had become infirm to the extent that someone local was required to manage their affairs. Harvey liquidated most of his business assets in Tennessee and returned to Gloucester to assume that task. When his parents had both passed away, he retired completely. Harvey had lived a good life and had no regrets. He expects now to bask eternally in the grace of God.
There will be a funeral service at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 5, 2012, at Olive Branch Methodist Church, 10833 Harcum Road, in Gloucester. No wake will be held and there will be no social. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Rita Staul. She will be assisted by the Rev. Milford Rollins, Harvey's cousin from Poquoson. There will also be a few words spoken graveside at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church general fund or to Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue, P.O. Box 1477, Gloucester, VA 23061.
Claytor Rollins Funeral Home, Poquoson, is in charge of arrangements. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.
Published in Daily Press from July 3 to July 4, 2012
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