William Jerome Askew Jr.

Memorial service: A service to celebrate his life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Grace Presbyterian Church, 5500 Mansfield Road, Arlington, 76017.

As a young man, he achieved in his schooling and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with seven palms. He later fought in the Navy's Underwater Demolition Teams during World War II in the Pacific. Upon returning from war, he earned degrees in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University. While attending Tech he married Geraldine Frazier.

As an engineer, he first taught electrical engineering at SMU, during which he helped Texas Instruments develop the first working silicon transistor circuit. Thereafter he worked for Chance Vought Aircraft on developmental aircraft programs, later Shrike for TI, and developmental programs that led to the ASAT, ATACMS, HVM, and PAC-3 missile systems among many other programs while at LTV Missiles. He later became of VP Engineering at E-Systems, Greenville and finished his career at the Superconducting Super Collider Lab developing the collider dipole magnets.

Survivors: He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Geraldine Frazier Askew; his children, Paula, Pam, and Chris; and three grandchildren.