- Date Of Birth: February 6, 1931
- Date Of Death: November 24, 2008
- State: Illinois
Don Paul Filson, 77, of Jacksonville, died Monday, November 24, 2008 at his residence.
He was born February 6, 1931, in Chicago, the son of Floyd Vivian and Wilma Hazel Nutt Filson. He first married Nancy Conner and they were divorced in 1988. He then married Darlene Nelson on Jan. 5, 1991 in Jacksonville and she survives.
He is also survived by two sons, Bur (Roxanne) Filson of Jacksonville and Tim (Liz) Filson of Shawnee Mission, KS.; two daughters, Jennifer (Craig) Morrison of Petersburg and Hilary (Dave) Melbourne of Jacksonville; eleven grandchildren, Katy, Morgan, Madison, Rebecca, Rachel, Katie, Courtney, Cara, Megan, Timothy and Tyler; and two sisters, Kirby (Hal) Davis of Duarte, CA. and Abby (John) Shaw of Prescott, AZ.; he was preceded in death by one son, Tom Filson; and one brother, Larry Filson (surviving wife, Chris of North Potomac, MD.)Dr. Filson was a graduate of Waller High School. He was a veteran of the Korean War, where he served with the U.S. Army. He did his undergraduate work at Park College and obtained both the Master’s and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Illinois, and was a National Science Foundation Fellow during graduate school. He began teaching Chemistry at Illinois College in 1960 where he helped oversee the design of Crispin Science Hall and was instrumental in the conversion of the former Baxter Dining Hall into a state-of-the-art computer science center. He served as Chairman of the Dept. of Chemistry and Computer Science and Information Systems. The trustees honored him by designating him as the Strawn Professor Emeritus of Chemistry. He served on the college accreditation reviews and as faculty marshal during the Sesquicentennial celebrations of 1979 and early 1980. Dr. Filson was President of the faculty senate and an honorary member of Phi Alpha. He was one of the charter members of McGaw Fine Arts Series and in 1989 was awarded a McGaw Citation for his support of the fine arts.
Dr. Filson was a member of First Presbyterian Church and attended Congregational Church UCC, Jacksonville Symphony Society, serving as board member, treasurer, president and executive director, performed as a member of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorale and as a member of the choirs of First Presbyterian and Congregational churches, member of The Club and American Chemical Society. He enjoyed genealogy. Following retirement he devoted himself to family and friends. Colleagues, acquaintances and family continued to enjoy his wit and dry sense of humor throughout his retirement years.
