Arthur S. VanderDoes

Arthur S. VanderDoes

Arthur S. VanderDoes, of Lynchburg, died Monday morning, Oct. 20, 2008, at The Summit Assisted Living, at the age of 85. Arthur was the husband of Mayme Nolan VanderDoes.

He was born March 24, 1923, in Ogden, Utah, a son of the late Vesta VanderDoes and Cornelius VanderDoes. In addition to his parents, Arthur was preceded in death by a son, Thomas A. VanderDoes.

In addition to his wife, Arthur is survived by his daughter, Karen VanderDoes Sumner and her husband, Grady Sumner, of Goode; his son, Douglas B. VanderDoes and his wife, Dianna Ketch VanderDoes, of Aurora, Colo.; his daughter-in-law, JoElla Bateman VanderDoes of Kernersville, N.C.; and four grandchildren, Jeremy Tassone and wife, Lara Helms Tassone, Lisa Phipps and husband, Tad Phipps, Gina Maria Sutherland and husband, Russell, and Jennifer VanderDoes. Arthur is also survived by two great-granddaughters, Hanna and Nyah Phipps; and brothers, Elmer VanderDoes of Ogden, Utah, and Leland VanderDoes of Roy, Utah.

Arthur served with the 615th Battalion of the U.S. Army during World War II. He had served under General Patton. He was stationed in England, France and Germany. From Europe he was sent to Okinawa. He received an honorable discharge upon completion of duty. He received a degree in electrical engineering from Utah State University of Logan, Utah, and was employed at the Material Testing Reactor in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He then accepted a position with Babcock and Wilcox Co. in their Critical Experiment Laboratory, Campbell County, the site of the world's first commercial experiment laboratory, pioneering the designs of nuclear reactor cores for electrical power generation and propulsion. This site was later designated as a Nuclear Historic Landmark. Arthur retired in 1983.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg. The family will hold a private memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Ste. 100, Arlington, VA 22203-1606; or to a charity of your choice.

Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tharpfuneralhome.com.