- Date Of Birth: March 31, 1930
- Date Of Death: March 28, 2012
- State: Michigan
Forrest Otto Stark, age 81 of Midland died at his residence on Wednesday March 28, 2012. The son of the late Otto and Edna (Laracey) Stark was born on March 31, 1930 in Bay City. Forrest started his education with an Associates Degree from Bay City Junior College, he then prused his Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburg in 1955, his Ph.D. in Physical Org. Chemistry from Penn State University in 1962 under the direction of Dr. Professor Leo Sommer, and the Management Program at Indiana University in 1974.
Forrest started his professional career with Dow Corning Corp in 1951 as a lab technician. From 1952 to 1955 he joined the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research under a Dow Corning Fellowship. In 1955 he returned to Dow Corning and managed various groups in research. In 1981 he became Director of Silicone Research, in 1987 Vice President and Director for Health and Environmental Sciences and from 1998 to 2001 was a Consultant in silicone chemistry for Dow Corning until his retirement after 47 years of service. Forrest was a member of the American Chemical Society for 45 years, the Society of Chemical Industry, Industrial Research Institute, Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He also served on the MMI Science Advisory Board in Midland, the National Research Council Advisory Committee for NASA, National Research Council for NIST for Building and Fire Research.
Forrest loved being outdoors where he could enjoy nature in the woods and fishing from his boat or sitting on the deck with his two favorite labs Casey and Molly. His children learned many valuable life lessons when they spent time hunting and fishing with him. His most important legacy was his children and their accomplishments and he was always proud of them. One of his favorite places to be was his wildflower woods in northern Indiana. Nancy and Forrest enjoyed traveling the globe and the many business and personal friends they met along the way made fond memories to share with the family.
Surviving is his wife of 24 years the former Nancy McKibben whom he married on February 23, 1988; his children, Dr. Craig (Judy) Stark of Des Monies, Iowa, Leslie (Ron) Fontaine of Blue Springs Missouri, Kimberley (Carl) Merritt of Independence, Missouri, Corey (Marji) Stark of Lees Summit, Missouri, Douglas Stark of Arlington, Virginia, Barry Stark of Midland; step daughter, Lisa (Dennis) Fales of Midland; grandchildren, Hilary, Brianna, Meredith, Ryan, Jordan, Matthew, Jason, Austin Stark, Chris Fontaine, Nicholas, Nathan Merritt, Christina, Leurissa and Allison Fales. In addition to his parents, Forrest was preceded in death by a sister, Viola Stark Matson and the mother of his children, Gloria Stark.
