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David W. Persons, a longtime resident of Albuquerque, was born in Emmetsburg, IA July 15, 1906. He was raised in Detroit, MI and was a graduate of Northwestern High School and Wayne State University. He earned a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering from the Univeristy of Michigan in 1931. His beloved wife of 62 years, Helen Rente Persons passed in 1996. His parents were Linda and Elmer Persons. His sister, Jean Persons Holmes and brother, James Persons, both of Detroit, predeceased him. Dave is survived by his niece, Linda Persons Tonkery of Morristown, NJ; and nephews, Bill Persons of Hernando Beach, FL, Lynn Holmes of Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, Robert Holmes of Livonia, MI, John Holmes of Atlanta, GA, and Richard Holmes of Farmington Hills, MI. Dave enjoyed long service with the Army Corps of Engineers. He began his career in the 1930s working on Mississippi Valley water conservation and flood control construction projects. Later he moved to New Mexico working on Dam construction projects including Conchas Dam in Tucumcari, NM. Early in World War II he served with the Army Corps of Engineers in New Mexico and was responsible for the construction design and planning for 20 airfields and military camps. Completing a two year assignment in the European Theater at the end of the war, he left the service a Lt. Colonel. Returning to New Mexico, he joined the Atomic Energy Commission Santa Fe Operations Office and was an important lead in construction of the AEC facilities in Rocky Flats, Colorado and Los Alamos, New Mexico where he resided for a number of years before moving to Albuquerque. He was serving as reactor safety engineer at the time of his retirement in 1964. In 1954 Mr. Persons was honored in Detroit as a distinguished alumnus of Wayne State University for his contributions to the military, the AEC, and the country. A partial quotation from the citation presented by the university is as follows: "It is impossible to estimate how much of our national safety and progress in atomic research has depended upon the training, skill, wisdom, and integrity of this engineer who earlier had solved vast problems of flood control, dam construction and more recently the development of the incalculably important laboratories of the Atomic Energy Commission. The high promise of his undergraduate days has been richly achieved in the great career of this distinguished alumnus whom his alma mater is proud to honor by this recognition." In retirement, Dave spent many enjoyable hours with his ham radio hobby (Call sign KD5K). He kept up a regular schedule of communications with a cadre of international co-hobbyists. Both Dave and his wife were avid golfers. Dave enjoyed following University of New Mexico sports and always kept an eye on the University of Michigan and Detroit Tigers and Lions team fortunes. Dave moved to Texas to Knopps Assisted Living in 2004 to remain near friends and caregivers, Richardson and Grace Crook who had also moved to Fredericksburg, TX. The family is very grateful to the Crooks for their nurturing care and also thanks the staff at Knopps for their kind attention. Per Mr. Persons request there will be no services. Interment will be in Detroit, MI. He led an important and distinguished career. He was a good man, his own man and the last of his generation. Keep up the good work Dave. Funeral arrangements under the direction of the Schaetter funeral home, Fredericksburg, TX. Expressions of sympathy may be sent at www.schaetter.com
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