Donald Ikerd McRee

Don McRee, formally of Raleigh, died peacefully at Glenaire Retirement Community on July 28, at age 90. He was born at home in Newton, North Carolina to the late Clyde Franklin McRee and Iva Ikerd McRee. Growing up within a loving family in a small town, roaming the foothills of Catawba County from Bakers Mountain to the banks of the Catawba River, and achieving the rank of Eagle Scout formed the person that Don became.

Following graduation from Newton-Conover High School, Don was admitted to Davidson College. A math and physics major at Davidson, Don played football and baseball, was a battalion commander of the ROTC Regiment, and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He was recognized for his competitive play on the gridiron and diamond when he was inducted into the Davidson College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. Following graduation from Davidson in 1957, Don was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army and received an honorable discharge with the rank of captain. He and his beloved wife, Priscilla Kincaid Inscoe, were married on June 27, 1959, beginning a life of devotion, support, and love.

Don began a career in scientific research when he joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia during the early days of this country's space program. While at NASA, Don earned a master's degree in physics at the College of William and Mary.

A change in employment from NASA to Corning Glass Works Electronics Research Laboratory precipitated a move from Hampton, Virginia to Raleigh by Don and his young family in 1964. While at Corning Glass Works, Don earned a doctorate in engineering science and mechanics from North Carolina State University. He continued his career in research at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) focusing on the health effects of nonionizing radiation. While at NIEHS, Don took a leading role in NIEHS' participation in United States-Soviet Union international agreements. He traveled 12 times to the Soviet Union in the 1970's and 1980's to cooperatively and collaboratively advance scientific knowledge about the health effects of low-level microwave radiation. Don contributed to the advancement and understanding in his field as the author or co-author of over 100 published articles and abstracts and as president of The Bioelectromagnetics Society, an international organization of scientists, physicians, and engineers. He retired from NIEHS in 1995 and continued scientific research with Wireless Technologies where he coordinated and studied the biological effects of cellular telephones.

Don valued young people and sought to provide them with a foundation for a meaningful life. He taught Sunday school classes for middle and high school students, was a church youth group leader for many years, sponsored and worked with confirmands at church as they prepared for church membership, and was a Webelos leader and troop committee member in the Boy Scouts of America.

As a person of faith, Don was devoted to the church. He was ordained as a deacon and elder in the Presbyterian Church USA and named elder emeritus by the session of First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh. Don focused on the church's mission work and outreach, participating in the construction of Habitat for Humanity homes in Wake County and mission trips to Haiti and New Orleans to help alleviate difficult living conditions caused by hurricanes and other natural disasters.

Don will be remembered by his family as a loving and supportive husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He had many interests and enjoyed many activities including tennis, running, golf, woodworking and beekeeping. His happiest times were when he was surrounded by family on annual beach trips, holidays and other special occasions. He loved his friends, some of whom he had known since childhood, and enjoyed special times with them.

In addition to his parents, Don was predeceased by his brothers Harry Franklin McRee and Leonard Clarence McRee, and sister Sue McRee Watson.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Priscilla Inscoe McRee of Glenaire Retirement Community; his children, Donald Ikerd "Ike" McRee, Jr. (Sharon) of Raleigh, NC, William Andrew "Andy" McRee (Amy) of Cary, NC, and Susan McRee Dubach (Dave) of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren, Ally Woodside (Tyler), Sam McRee, Ryan Emerson (Jenn), Mitchell McRee, Matthew Dubach and Anna Wesley Dubach; great-grandchildren, Wright Woodside, Penny Emerson, and Collins Emerson; his brother, Sam McRee of Newton, NC; his brother-in-law, Bill Inscoe of Newton, NC; his sister-in-law, Beverly McRee of Davidson, NC; and many nieces and nephews.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 112 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina on Saturday, August 9 at 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Don's memory to the First Presbyterian Church Friendship Fund, 112 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 or Habitat for Humanity at https://www.habitatwake.org/donate.

Arrangements provided by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St. Raleigh, NC.