Otis Shealy

Otis L. Shealy, 89, a native of Little Mountain, S.C., died July 13, 2013 in Wilmington, DE. Born in October 1923, Shealy was the son of the late Jacob L. and Lorane Fulmer Shealy. He graduated from Newberry College and during World War Two served as an intelligence officer with the 14th Air Corps (the "Flying Tigers") in China.  After the war he obtained a Ph.D. in chemistry at t he University of N.C. and married Harriet Sanders of Chapel Hill,  N.C.

Shealy joined the DuPont company in 1950 and spent most of his career managing the development of new fibers products and processes.  He led divisions doing research on nylon and "Dacron," and led the development and commercialization of a new family of nonwoven products whichi included the well-known "Tyvek" product. Shealy, a fellow of the Textile Institute, was widely recognized in  the fibers field.  He retired in 1983 and continued as a DuPont consultant until 2003.

Beyond his technical career, Shealy was active in many church and community programs.  He served on the Executive Board of the Delaware-Maryland Synod, Lutheran Church in America, and led the development of Luther Towers, a large non-profit apartment facility for the elderly.  He also led the development and expansion of a United Way agency for mentally disturbed children.  Shealy served for 20 years as a trustee of Newberry college and was awarded an honorary Sc. D. degree by the college.

Mr. Shealy is survived by his two sons, Malcolm and Glenn Shealy; a daughter, Barbara Lerch; a daughter-in-law, Nelly Drouillard; a sister-in-law, Anne Shealy and 14 grandchildren.  He was predeceased by his wife, Harriet,  a son, Alan Shealy and a brother, Heyward Shealy.

Mr. Shealy will be interred at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, Little Mountain.  A graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 11:00 am. Friends and family may call at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home in Newberry Friday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Mt. Tabor memorial fund, 816 Mt. Tabor Road, Little Mountain, SC 29075.

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