John Foster Newcomb

1939 - 2016

BENA - John Foster Newcomb, 76 of Bena passed away March 10, 2016. Born April 23, 1939 in Richmond, VA to the late John S. Newcomb and Helen Foster Newcomb, he was raised at White Marsh where his father ran a general store and his mother taught business. After graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in Engineering Mechanics, John joined the NASA Langley Research Center. He worked first as a young engineer at Langley's rocket launching area, Wallops Island, and then on two of NASA's early space missions. The first was the Lunar Orbiter Project which placed 5 Lunar Orbiters around the Moon and photographed the Apollo landing sites. The second was the Viking Project which placed two landers on the surface of Mars, in 1976. John gives an exclusive behind the scenes look at these two extraordinary missions in his recently published book A Bunch of Plumbers. This is a history of those missions, through John's eyes, told with stories, events, and human interest. After Viking, John headed a group of project managers performing projects as varied as putting experiments on the NASA Space Shuttle to putting pylons on fighter aircraft. He then headed NASA's Physics and Chemistry Experiments in Space Program which developed and performed experiments in the free fall environment of the NASA's Space Shuttle and The International Space Station. This program became the core of NASA's Microgravity Program. Throughout his career John has authored or co-authored over 35 technical papers. Since he retired from NASA, he has continued to consult and teach and has enjoyed numerous speaking engagements regarding his book. Along with his professional endeavors he found time to indulge his hobbies such as sailing and skiing. He came in second in the 1964 Olympic trials, sailing in the Flying Dutchman class. He then won the US National Championships in 1965 and competed in the world championships in Alassio, Italy. He has snow skied various locations on the East Coast, up and down the Rockies, and over a dozen places in Europe. He is survived by his wife Peggy of fifty years, their three daughters, Helen Van Orden (Gary), Dorothy West (Frank), and Aubrey Rachel. Grandchildren; Kyle (Hannah) Stewart, Bryan Stewart, Brandon West, Hunter West and Alexus Rachel. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at Bellamy Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Bellamy Memorial Cemetery immediately following the service. Family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday, March 14, 2016 at Hogg Funeral Home, Gloucester Point. Memorial Contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Mrs. G. Edward Mowry, 7274 Joseph Lewis Road, Hayes, VA 23072 or the American Heart Association, c/o Anne Dyle, 8374 Kitchener Drive, Gloucester, VA 23061. Family and friends may share memories and condolences at www.hoggfh.com