Charles Howard Walkinshaw

Services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church at 1130 1st Avenue in Columbus, Georgia at 2:00 PM on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, followed by a small reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the National Parkinson Foundation – North Florida at www.npfnorthflorida.org.

Charles was born on Nov. 14, 1935 to Charles H. Walkinshaw Sr. and Rita Walkinshaw in Blairsville, Pennsylvania. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Botany / Plant Pathology from the University of Florida in 1957 followed by his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Plant Pathology / Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin in 1960. Following two years of post-doctorate work at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Walkinshaw worked for the Department of Agriculture from 1963 to 1995 as a Plant Pathologist including a special assignment with NASA from 1968 to 1973 managing the Lunar Receiving Lab at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas during the Apollo 11-17 missions, where he was in charge of insuring that lunar materials did not represent a danger to plant life on Earth. He is credited with hundreds of scientific publications including 12 unique papers published in 12 different professional journals within a 12-month period in the early 1970s, a tremendous professional achievement. After the Apollo program ended in 1973, Dr. Walkinshaw returned to Gulfport, Mississippi to continue work on developing genetically superior hybrid pine tree species that exhibited superior growth rates and high disease-resistance for use in southern pine plantings used to produce everyday paper products. Charles worked diligently to cultivate and advance minority and women interests in the field of science including research programs and seminars at universities across the South including Rust College, Alabama A&M, LeMoyne-Owen College, Texas A&M University, North Texas State University and the University of Houston. After his retirement in 1995 and subsequent designation as Emeritus Scientist in 1997, he actively mentored young research scientists, sharing his experience and data with them. Charles was a lifelong member of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, which is an honor society of scientists and engineers that recognizes scientific achievement.

Charles is survived by his wife of 32 years, Camille Walkinshaw; his sister, Cathy Tempesco; his sons: Howard (Karen) Walkinshaw, Steve (Jenai) Walkinshaw and Doug Walkinshaw; his daughters: Audrey Wood, Claire (John) Olson; his grandsons: Howard (Ronda) Walkinshaw, Jackson Olson and Clint Walkinshaw; his granddaughters: Kelley (Chris) Ladner, Tricia Wood, Bethany Walkinshaw, Megan Walkinshaw, Carson Leigh Olson and Kate Walkinshaw; his great-grandsons: Grant Walkinshaw, Luke Ladner, and Jackson Ladner; his great-granddaughter, Gracyn Walkinshaw and many nieces and nephews.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.shcolumbus.com