MELSON
William G. “Bill”, Ph.D.
Geologist, Research Scientist
Age 77, of Strasburg, VA on Oct. 7, 2016. Husband of Judith A. “Judy” McCarthy. Survived by sister, Mary Hahn of Savannah, GA. Father of Mary Melson of Providence, RI, and Amy Melson (Aaron Gell) of Brooklyn, NY, and their mother Judy Mercer (James) of Providence, RI; grandchildren, Sophie, Russell and Nora Gell; Mother-in-law, Elizabeth (Betty) McCarthy, sister-in-law, Maureen Terhorst and brother-in-law, John J. McCarthy, Jr. (Donna), all of Pittsburgh, PA; and nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. He was previously married to Bette Ridgeway.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Hattie; brothers, Clifton and Warren Liewald; and sisters, Katherine Trice, Dolores Lanouette, Joyce Dawson, Valerie Jenkins, Mildred Kuell; and father-in-law, John (Jack) J. McCarthy, Sr. Bill was the recipient of the Prince George’s County Scholarship Program’s Newton H. White Scholarship and the National Science Foundation’s graduate fellowship; undergraduate degree: John Hopkins University; graduate studies and Ph.D.: Princeton University.
Bill worked over 40 years as a Geologist/Researcher for the Smithsonian’s Natural Museum of Natural History, Mineral Sciences, and received his 50 year career service pin as Scientist Emeritus. He worked on eruptions and volcanic hazards and accompanied Smithsonian Archeologists to archeological sites. Bill served on the NASA’s Lunar Sample Analysis Planning Team (LSAPT) and the NSF’s institution of Oceanography’s Deep Sea Drilling Project. He co-authored a book with Brian Mason, Lunar Rocks. He was a consultant to the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (NWTRB).
Bill offered countless educational programs, hikes and field trips for children and adults, including the Smithsonian Residents Program. Through Earthwatch, he took 150 volunteers to Arena Volcano, Costa Rica, Central America. He had been an adjunct faculty member at George Washington University. He wrote a book Geology Explained: Fort Valley and Massanutten Mountains.
Bill was a Fellow and received his 50-year pin from the Geological Society of America. He was a Fellow with the Mineralogical Society of America and the American Institute of Chemists.
In retirement, Bill taught Geology at Lord Fairfax Community College, Middletown, VA, and the Life-Long Learning Program, Hagerstown Community College, MD.
He was a member of the Hopewell Centre Religious Society of Friends Meeting, Quakers; life-time member of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC). He completed 10 marathons.
Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for contributions on his behalf to: Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork St. # 405, Winchester, VA 22601. A special thanks is given to the caring staff at Greenfield Reflections, Strasburg, VA.