Larry Omar Christian, PhD

Christian, Larry Omar, PhD Kalamazoo, Michigan Died this morning, October 18 at Upjohn Community Care Center after a prolonged battle with Generalized Torsion Dystonia. He was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on August 20, 1936, the son of Emily Gertrude and Omar K. Christian. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School with Highest Honors. In 1958 he graduated Summa Cum Laude from Albion College with majors in physics and mathmatics. While in college he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. His postgraduate education was spent at Stanford University and the University of Arizona, graduating with a PhD in Nuclear Physics in 1966. Larry was Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Pi Sigma-physics honorary, Phi Eta Sigma-freshman scholastic honorary, Kappa Mu Epsilon-Mathmatics honorary, and Omicron Delta Kappa-Undergraduate Leadership and Scholastic Honorary. He was a graduate study scientist at Lockheed Missile and Space Division, Palo Alto, CA, and an Atmospheric Physicist at White Sands Missile Range. He was Assistant Professor of physics at Willamette University, Salem, Oregon. He taught undergraduate physics and directed senior research. His career was interrupted by the sudden development of Generalized Torsion Dystonia in January, 1968. He was hospitalized and underwent treatment for many years. In the mid seventies he was hired as a research scientist by Stanley Ovshinsky, president of Energy Conversion Devices of Troy, MI. Dr. Ovshinsky was interested in the function of semi-conductors and its analogy with neurologic disorders. Ovshinsky graciously offered an opportunity for Larry to become gainfully employed again for a ten-year period. From the mid-nineteen eighties to the end of his life Larry was totally disabled and for the past ten years was a resident in assisted living followed by Upjohn Community Care Center nursing home. Larry enjoyed music and sports, especially the Detroit Tigers about whom he could quote statistics and batting averages at any time.Throughout the thirty-eight years of his illness he set a wonderful example of courage and determination, and maintained a great sense of humor. He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Andrew Beeman, and a brother-in-law, Jerry Hough. In September 1956 Larry was united in marriage to the former Charlene Schultz who survives. He was a loving and supportive father of his three daughters; Diana Hardenbrook Gary, Denise Fairbrother James, and Darcy Downs Richard; grandchildren Sandy, Larry, Jr., Christopher, Jeremy, Tiffany, Shawnna, Trisha and Gregory; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Dr. Daniel K. Christian Jill, Mattawan, MI and a sister, Mary Ann Christian/Hough of Palm Harbor, FL; several nieces, nephews and cousins. At Larry?s request his brain has been donated to the Brain and Tissue Bank for Developmental Diseases and cremation has taken place. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, October 20 at 1:00 PM in the chapel of the First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park Street in Kalamazoo. Memorial contributions may be made to Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, 1 East Wacker Dr., Suite 2900, Chicago, IL 60601-2098 or to a charity of choice