Obituary of John Clifford Erickson, Jr.

John Clifford "Jack" Erickson, Jr., 84, of State College, died Monday, February 26, 2018, at Juniper Village at Brookline, State College. Born April 26, 1933, in Cleveland Heights, OH, he was the son of the late John Clifford and the late Margaret Caunter Erickson. On August 4, 1956 he married Barbara A. Barch, who survives. Also surviving are three children, Connie Erickson-Miller, James Richard Erickson and his wife, Linda, and Nancy Dreschel and her husband, William; a sister, Karen Kneifel and her husband, Larry; a sister in-law, Mary Barch; six grandchildren, Andrew and Rebecca Miller, Benjamin and Nathan Dreschel, Jack Kristofer and Carly Erickson; several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a son in-law, Stuart Miller, a granddaughter, Amy Miller and a brother in-law, James Barch. He was a 1951 graduate of Shaw High School, Cleveland, OH. Jack received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics from Cornell University in 1956. In 1962, he received a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering also from Cornell University. During the summer months while attending school, Jack worked for NASA on jet noise research. His employment history also included working for Therm Advanced Research in Ithaca, NY, Calspan and Arvin-Calspan as Principal Engineer in Buffalo, NY and Calspan at Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tullahoma, TN. In 1997, he retired to State College, PA to be near family. Jack was well known for his work in Aerodynamics, in computational fluid dynamics, static thrust, adaptive wall wind tunnels and propeller theory. He developed a website on aero engines/HOAE (Horizontally Opposed Aircraft Engines) that can be seen on the Aircraft Engine Historical Society website. He was a member of the honorary Sigma Xi society. He was also a member of the professional associations of AIAA, EAA and AEHS, and in addition to being a member, he served as President of Triangle Fraternity at Cornell. Jack was also involved in a Working group in Aerodynamics for AGARD, a division of NATO that met in Gottingen, Germany; Ankara, Turkey; Virginia Beach, VA and Toulouse, France. A loving husband, father and grandfather, Jack enjoyed spending time with family, aviation history, classical music, listening to opera, sailing, playing softball, traveling abroad and being involved in the Concert Committee in Tullahoma, TN. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m., on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. Memorial service will be at 4 p.m., on Friday, March 2, 2018 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College, with the Reverend Al Wilson officiating. Burial will be at Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, OH. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1375 Martin St #206, State College, PA 16803 or to the Schlow Centre Region Library, 211 S Allen St, State College, PA 16801. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.