Donald Frederick Cairns, (9/9/24-2/11/15) of Kirkwood, died peacefully of natural causes in his room at Aberdeen Heights in Kirkwood on Wednesday evening.
Born in Coulterville, IL., grew up in Sparta, IL. Served as a US Army Combat Engineer in the Asian-Pacific Campaign in WWII with numerous citations including the Bronze Star for valor in battle.
Earned a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois after WWII. Married Marion Huey of Sparta, IL after graduation. Inventor and Author of several patents for pollution control devices. Co-author of the US Clean Air Act of 1971, the first legislation with substantive air quality and enforcement criteria. Earned Masters and PhD in Business Administration from St. Louis University. Elder at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church.
Survived by wife Marion, son Doug, and brother James. A memorial gathering will be held at a later date, probably around Memorial Day, 2015.
