Charles Maurice Packer
April 21, 1930 - July 10, 2016
Dr. Charles Maurice Packer was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 21, 1930 to Charles Bratton Hill and Helen Dorothy Hill. He died July 10, 2016 in Redwood City, Calif.
At a young age, following the passing of his father, Charles was adopted by Austin Packer who had married his mother Helen.
While Dr. Packer was in grade school, the family moved to Burlingame, Calif., where he graduated from Burlingame High School in 1948. He continued on to college, earning a BS degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah and a commission in the US Navy in 1954.
Dr. Packer served his country for three years as a commissioned officer in the Navy, serving aboard the USS Estes, flagship for the evacuation of the Tachen Islands during the Taiwan Strait Crisis and evacuated non-communist citizens from North Vietnam to the south of the divided country in 1954 and 1955. He also played a significant role in the historic testing of the atomic and hydrogen bombs while serving on the USS Estes in 1956. Dr. Packer was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1957.
He accepted a position with Lockheed Missiles and Space in 1957 and worked at the company for the rest of his life. Dr. Packer had more than 59 years experience with materials used in aerospace applications. He was part of the team that invented the ceramic materials for the space shuttle, allowing it to withstand the heat upon reentry to the atmosphere.
During his early years at Lockheed he also earned his PhD in Materials Science at Stanford University.
During his lengthy tenure at Lockheed, Dr. Packer received numerous accolades, including the Lockheed R&DD Robert E. Gross Award for Technical Excellence: R&DD Scientist of the Year. Dr. Packer earned the award for “pioneering research and significant contributions to the scientific understanding of high-temperature materials.” He was also the co-author on three patents.
Dr. Packer split his time between his homes in Emerald Hills, California and New York City. He was an avid 49ers and SF Giants fan and a devoted father, grandfather, and husband.
Dr. Packer is survived by his wife of 45 years, Leslie and their two children Jane Packer and Charles S. Packer (Noelle Olsen) as well as Charles S. Packer’s children, Ana Lucia and Hudson; three children from a previous marriage to Barbara Walcher, Tracey Packer (David Dawley) and their children Jack and Kate Packer-Dawley, John Packer (Shindi Packer) and their daughter, Emma, and Adrienne Packer (Heather Grubb); his brother Phil Packer (Sherrie Packer); as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that you cheer for the San Francisco Giants in his name. Donations can be made to the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, www.aarbf.org. Services will be held on Saturday, August 6 at 10 a.m. at Holbrook Palmer Park in Atherton, Calif.