Danny Beamer Weddle, PhD died on August 5, 2012 at the age of 67 at his home in Solomons, Maryland. The cause of death was lung cancer. He was born on September 21, 1944 in Fancy Gap, Virginia to the late Thomas Luther and Nannie Beamer Weddle and grew up in Hillsville, Virginia.

During his childhood, he worked on the family farm with his dad and brother Jackie and enjoyed playing football and trumpet at Hillsville High School where he also was class valedictorian. He married his true love Carole Ann Schneider on March 23, 1968 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

After getting his educational start in a one-room school house, he was a proud alumnus of the University of Virginia where he received a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering and master's degree in applied mathematics. A life-long student, mentor and teacher, he went on to obtain a master's in operations' research and a doctor of philosophy at George Washington University, and to teach at the Florida Institute of Technology. He also served on the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center's Board of Governors.

Danny moved to Lexington Park, Maryland in 1968 with Carole after landing a job as a mathematician and aerospace engineer at the Computer Services Directorate on the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Although planning only a brief stint in the small town, he completed 33 years of federal service at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. During that time, he helped to develop the first flight simulators for testing naval air jets, created a total quality management program and helped establish the High Performance Computing Modernization Program. His passion for high performance computing led him to the position of Chief Scientist for the Department of Defense High Performance Computing Modernization Program in Lorton, Virginia as a contractor employed with J.F. Taylor, Inc. He was serving as the Associate Director of Strategic Opportunities & Outreach for the program at the time of his death.

Danny's public service and professional contributions were recognized throughout his career. Most recently he was honored to be named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Lexington Park, MD. He also received the prestigious HERO Award from the High Performance Computing Modernization Program. As a member of the Rotary Club of Lexington Park, MD, he served as the head timer at the annual St. Mary's County Oyster Festival for many years. Danny was an avid runner not letting a long workday or extreme weather stand in the way of a five-mile run. One of his greatest loves, besides his family and friends, was reading - always several books at a time.

Never an unkind word for anyone, family, friends and colleagues cherished his generosity, humility and his unrelenting optimism toward humanity and the world around him. Danny is survived by his wife of 44 years Carole Ann Weddle, daughter Andrea "Missy" Weddle and her partner Raymond J. Felsecker of Washington, DC, son Thaddeus Beamer Weddle of Park Hall, Maryland, brother Jackie Dean Weddle of Roanoke, Virginia in addition to mother-in-law Margaret Virginia Schneider of Louisville, Kentucky and numerous extended family members and dear friends.

A scholarship fund has been established in his name. Memorial donations can be sent to: Southern Maryland Higher Education Foundation, Inc. "Danny Weddle Scholarship Fund" 44219 Airport Road California, MD 20619. Please make checks payable to the "Southern Maryland Higher Education Foundation, Inc." with "Danny Weddle Scholarship Fund" in the memo.

A Life Celebration Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Middleham & St. Peter's Parish Hall, 10210 H.G. Trueman Rd., Lusby, MD 20657.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.