Larry Douglas Pinson

Larry Douglas Pinson, 71, of Willis, VA passed away in his home February 12, 2012. Originally from Pike County, KY he is survived by his wife of 52 years Sarah Kathryn, his children Earl Douglas and his wife Marcella, Sharon Kay and her husband Andy Honaker, and Leigh Anna and her husband Matt Wilkins, his sister Sue and her husband Bob Vannoy of Ponte Vedra, FL and his ten grandchildren: Kalin, Daniel, Katie, Corrie, Melinda, Emily, Heather, Benjamin, Courtney and Shannon. He was preceded in death by his parents Earl Lee and Fern Bethel Pinson, and his siblings Eileen Kangas, Jim, Allen, Jo Smith and Betty Stratton. He began his education in a two-room schoolhouse in Zebulon, KY, received Bachelors and Masters degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Kentucky, and a PhD in Engineering Science & Mechanics from Virginia Tech. After a short time with the KY Highway Department, he began a career with NASA spanning three decades, consulting in the aerospace industry for several years after his retirement. He authored many technical papers, earned the Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Kentucky, and was a Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Larry was a member of the Radford Church of Christ in Radford, VA and a former Deacon at the Denbigh Boulevard Church of Christ in Newport News. He was also recently inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution. The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 16, 2012, from 6-9 PM at Lucas & Son Funeral Home, Pikeville. The funeral service will be held on Friday, February 17, 2012 at 11 AM at Lucas & Son Funeral Home, with interment at the Spears Family Cemetery in Harold, KY following the service.