Donald Modglin

DONALD DEAN MODGLIN – Age 85 of Nashville, TN, passed away Tuesday, August 18, 2009 quietly in his sleep, surrounded by his family after a short but courageous battle with cancer.
Preceded in death by parents, Everett and Violet Modglin of Cambria, Illinois and wife, Roma Tyner Modglin. Survived by son David Modglin Debbie of Thompson's Station, TN, daughter Dara Modglin McGarry of Los Angeles, CA., and grandchildren Kimberly Modglin Woodard Justin and Chadwin Modglin. Don served with the US Navy in WWII in the Pacific Theatre on a Mine Sweeper, YMS 393, as an electrician's mate. He took part in the Invasion of the Philippines, as well as the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Upon returning, he became a mechanical engineer working with, among others, Wernher von Braun and Colonel Harlan Sanders. He was an inventor and wonderful artist with 30 patents and 1 copyright. His designs have been used by Kentucky Fried Chicken, Volkswagen, the Alaskan Pipeline, Aladdin Industries and the Saturn 5 Rocket. Visitation will be Thursday, August 20, 4 – 8pm at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home, 9090 Highway 100, Nashville TN and Friday 5 – 9pm at Riggin-Pillatsch Funeral Home, 322 N. Division, Carterville, IL. Funeral Services 10am Saturday at Riggin-Pillatsch. Interment immediately following at Hillcrest Cemetary. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bill Franklin Memorial Fund at Vanderbilt Medical Center for Research Studies of the Brain care of Neuropathology, 1161 21st Ave S., MCN Rm C2318, Nashville, TN, 37232, 615-322-3998 or Alive Hospice 1718 Patterson St, Nashville, TN, 37203.