Dr. John Poston Sr.

1937 - 2025

Dr. John Ware Poston, Sr., a preeminent figure in the field of health physics and former resident of Lynchburg, Virginia, passed away on September 23, 2025. His distinguished career was marked by pioneering contributions to radiation safety, particularly in the domains of internal and external dosimetry.

Born on July 8, 1937, in Sparta, Tennessee, Dr. Poston was the son of the late Martha Ware Poston and John Gordon Poston. He was raised in Lynchburg, where he graduated from Brookville High School before earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Lynchburg College in 1958. While an undergraduate, he worked part-time at the Babcock & Wilcox Research Center, and upon graduation, he joined the organization as an experimental reactor physicist.

Following six years at Babcock & Wilcox, Dr. Poston transitioned to Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), initially supporting operations at the facility's research reactor. After its decommissioning, he joined ORNL's health physics group, where he conducted significant research in dosimetry. During his tenure at ORNL, he earned both a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in Nuclear Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

In 1977, Dr. Poston joined the faculty of the School of Nuclear Engineering at Georgia Tech, and in 1985, he was appointed to the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University. He served with distinction as both professor and department chair until his retirement.

Dr. Poston was widely regarded as a leader in the health physics community. His expertise was sought by numerous national and international organizations, including the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Health Physics Society (HPS), the American Nuclear Society (ANS), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He held several leadership roles, including serving as president of the Health Physics Society, and was honored as a Fellow of the HPS, ANS, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

His many professional honors include the Health Physics Society's Founders Award, the Loevinger-Berman Award from the Society of Nuclear Medicine, and the Robley D. Evans Commemorative Medal, among others.

Despite his significant professional accomplishments, Dr. Poston was perhaps most passionate about teaching and mentoring. He was deeply dedicated to his students and took great pride in their academic and professional successes.

In 1958, John married Lillian Yvonne Plunkett and together they raised a family of two daughters and a son. They were married for 49 years and Yvonne preceded him in death. He is survived by his daughters, Martha Poston-Brown and Vera Poston Benfield (Berlin), both of Grapevine, Texas; and his son, Dr. John Ware Poston, Jr., of Houston, Texas. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Stephanie Brown Blanton of Forest, Virginia; Carrie Brown Koss and Rebecca Benfield Surratt, both of Bedford, Texas; Allison Benfield of Grapevine, Texas; Jason Poston of Knoxville, Tennessee; Alexis Poston of Houston, Texas; and Jake Poston of Gainesville, Florida. Additionally, he is survived by his brother, William Gordon Poston, and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Duerson Poston of Richmond, Virginia.

Dr. Poston is also survived by his second wife, Ann Wallingford, and her children of Franklin, Texas.

A memorial service in honor of Dr. Poston's life and legacy will be held at Texas A&M University on November 8th.