Ival Otis Salyer

Ival O. Salyer had near-boundless curiosity as a research chemist and scientist. Among his numerous research projects were protective insulation foams for the space shuttle, development of an artificial kidney, and identification of low-cost roofing materials for the U.S. Agency for International Development. He died Oct. 15 at age 100. A memorial service is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 3219 Bethlehem Church Road, Buford, Ga. Mr. Salyer is named in more than 130 patents, the last of which was granted on Nov. 24, 2015 at age 98. It involved turbo-electric hybrid propulsion for aircraft. In the 1970s, he worked with the National Highway Traffic Administration to develop a smaller, gull-winged car with numerous safety features. A patent on the artificial kidney with a disposable dialyzing cartridge was granted in 1972. He and colleagues are credited with developing a material used in artificial hearts to help prevent them from being rejected by the body's immune system. He successfully worked on the design of materials to silence the noise made by submarines as a way to keep them safe from detection. He helped design insulating vacuum panel boxes to transport vaccines. Mr. Salyer was born on Nov. 21, 1916 in Coeburn Va., one of three sons. His first car was one he built himself from salvaged parts. He worked for Tennessee Eastman before being recommended for a job with the company in Rochester, New York. He worked his way through the University of Rochester, earning a degree in chemistry. Mr. Salyer joined what was then called the U.S. Army Air Forces in July 1942. Among other duties, he serviced and repaired automatic pilot equipment and bombsights. He was discharged as a sergeant in November 1945 at Patterson Field in Dayton, Ohio. He and his wife, Jane Salyer, to whom he was married for 61 years, would make Dayton their home, raising three children. Mr. Salyer worked at the Monsanto Research Corp. and at the University of Dayton Research Institute. As a member of the Vandalia Lions Club, he helped establish Ohio's first Lion's eye bank. He officially retired just before his 90th birthday, but continued pursuing ideas and patents from his home in Flowery Branch, Ga. He is survived by his son, Ival Salyer and his wife Beatrice, of Snohomish, Wa., daughter Sharon Salyer, of Seattle, Wa., daughter April Bell and her husband Jack Bell of Flowery Branch, Ga.; three grandsons, Jeremy and his wife Danielle, of Denver, Colorado, Scott Salyer, of Los Angeles, California, and Andre Salyer of Seattle, Wa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to: The Lions Eye Bank of West Central Ohio https://www.donatesight.org/ The University of Rochester https://www.rochester.edu/advancement/ways-to-give/ways-to-give/

Ival Otis Salyer

October 15, 2017