ISLESBORO – Paul Burke Welldon died July 12, 2008, in Islesboro. He was born in Nashua, N.H., in 1916. He was educated at Manchester (N.H.) High School, Dartmouth College AB 1937 and AM 1939, and the University of Illinois – Urbana, with a doctorate in organic chemistry in 1942. While at Illinois, he did research for the National Defense Research Council. In 1963 he attended Harvard’s School of Business Administration. His academic honors included college graduation summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa and election to the scientific societies Sigma Xi and Phi Lambda Upsilon. He was a member of the chemical fraternity Alpha Chi Sigma. Dr. Welldon lived in Delaware for 39 years, and worked for Hercules Powder Co., later Hercules Inc., from 1942 to 1979. He started as a research chemist at the company’s research center near Wilmington, Del., and retired as personnel manager for the development department. Dur-ing the 1950s, he managed a team of research scientists who helped Hercules become the first American pro-ducer of the then new polymer, polypropylene. Burke was active in the American Chemical Society, serving as councilor and treasurer of its Delaware section. He belonged to the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Chemical Heritage Foundation. He was president of Hercules Country Club, Canterbury Hills Civic Association and North Mill Creek Association; he also served on the board of Wilmington Symphony Orch-estra. His lifelong avocation was the game of bridge, with Midge, his wife of 66 years, and J. Wayne Kneisley of Wilmington, Del., as his favorite partners. He was a life master of the American Contract Bridge League. In 1981 Burke and Midge retired to the home of her forebears in Islesboro. There, he was an assessor, chaired the island’s comprehensive plan committee, was a member of the school advisory committees and served as treasurer of Islesboro Islands Trust and the Society for the Preservation of the Free Will Baptist Church, where he and Midge had been married in 1941. His special joy was the friendship of island people. He was predeceased in 2008 by Midge, the former Marjorie Z. Veazie. He is survived by his son, Douglas B. Welldon and daughter-in-law, Normajean Welldon, of Grantham, N.H.; his daughter, Paula J. Welldon; daughter-in-law, Stephanie Ma-ginn of Hockessin, Del.; and his grandson, Michael M. Well-don of Portland. A memorial service will be held in August at Free Will Baptist Church, Islesboro, with burial at Greenwood Cemetery at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Society for the Preservation of the Free Will Baptist Church, P.O. Box 183, Islesboro, ME 04848-0183. Arrangements are with Long Funeral Home & Cremation Ser-vice, Camden.
P. BURKE WELLDON
