Floyd McMaster Price, Jr.

Floyd McMaster Price, Jr. passed away in Germantown, Maryland, on February 26, 2023. Floyd was born on February 5, 1939, in Kansas City, Missouri, to the late Rev. Floyd M. Price and Rowena (Lindley) Price. He is survived by his beloved sister, Beatrice Price (North Carolina) and many cousins in Pelzer, South Carolina, who loved him dearly. Since Floyd’s parents moved around a lot due to his father being a preacher, Floyd got to know different areas of the country. Floyd was a proud graduate of Grinnell College in Iowa (1961), and earned a Master’s degree from the University of Nebraska. Known as “Bud” by his family, he will be fondly remembered for his outgoing personality and the ways that everyone enjoyed being with him. Floyd faithfully called his sister Beatrice every week.

Floyd made major contributions to molecular cell biology during his 31-year career at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. The areas of focus for his work included studying mechanisms of carcinogenesis using tissue culture models. The results of much of his research proved that genetic predisposition to cancer is associated with deficient DNA repair. His research also contributed to the development of a potential assay for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. Floyd co-authored 60 scientific papers/articles during his career.

In 1993, an accidental fall resulted in a life-changing injury. A singer and musician, Floyd played musical instruments, restoring strength and a sense of well-being to his creative mind. He kept in touch with friends he had known through his work and appreciated these connections. An avid college sports fan, Floyd particularly cheered for the University of Maryland football and women’s basketball teams. He enjoyed outings to attend games with friends.

Floyd was a most faithful participant in the United Church of Christ (UCC) of Seneca Valley in Germantown, Maryland. Having grown up as the son of a Congregational minister, Floyd felt especially connected to the UCC denomination. When he saw a poster at the local grocery store advertising a new UCC church start in Germantown (where he had bought a house), he was drawn to visit right away and became a charter member of the UCC of Seneca Valley. Floyd served on the first Missions Board and Nominating Committee of the church. He started the church’s first children’s choirs, the “Morning Stars” for very young singers and “Rainbow Singers” for older children. Over the years, he wrote several original songs for the groups. Floyd enjoyed playing the recorder and sometimes offered special musical pieces for church services, particularly with other instrumentalists. He described the church, especially the choir, as his local family; he often addressed his church friends with expressions of abiding love and gratitude for his fellow “children of God.” His commitment to singing bass in the church choir was sustained through many changes in choir directors, fellow singers, and the pandemic. He was generous in sharing his preferences of favorite hymns and choir music. In his retirement, he started volunteering weekly in the church office (folding the bulletins for Sunday worship services). The office staff and pastors counted on Floyd and looked forward to seeing him each week.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 19, 2023, at 3:00pm, at his beloved church home, UCC of Seneca Valley, 13421 Clopper Road, Germantown, MD 20874. A reception will follow.

Floyd will be buried at Lickville Presbyterian Church in Pelzer, SC, where his parents are buried.

In lieu of flowers, Floyd’s friends are encouraged to send memorial donations to Floyd’s church, UCC of Seneca Valley, www.uccsenecavalley.org, or Grinnell College, www.grinnell.edu, or a charity of the donor’s choice.