Category: Obituaries

Russell Judd Diefendorf, McAlister Professor Emeritus of Ceramic Engineering, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2024, at the age of 93.

Diefendorf began his Clemson career on May 17, 1990, and retired on June 26, 1997, totaling more than seven years of service with the University. His many honors and achievements included the American Ceramic Society’s James Mueller Memorial Lecturer award and the Ishikawa Prize from the Japanese
Union of Scientists and Engineers.

Diefendorf earned degrees from the University of Rochester and the University of Toronto.

Friends and family are welcome to a Celebration of Life to be held at the Inn at Patrick Square in Clemson on Saturday, November 9, 2024, from 12-2 p.m.

His obituary is available online.

Thelma Karr Barrett, retired agricultural science assistant, passed away on October 18, 2024, at the age of 95.

She began her Clemson career on June 1, 1967, and retired on June 30, 1992, as an agricultural science assistant with Agricultural Chemical Services. She served more than 25 years with the University.

Her obituary is available online.

Lawrence R. (Larry) Gering, Associate Professor Emeritus of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, passed away on October 11, 2024, in Belfast Maine.

He served Clemson University for 21 years, retiring on July 1, 2019. His career spanned over 30 years in research and education at Louisiana Tech University, Oklahoma State University, and Clemson University.

Gering earned a B.S. in Forestry from the University of Maine in 1979, an M.S. in Forestry from Clemson University and his Ph.D. in Forest Biometrics from the University of Georgia.

In 2017, he was awarded the Carl Alwin Schenck Award for teaching excellence in the field of forestry education from the Society of American Foresters.

Buford ‘Butch’ Trent, retiree, passed away on October 7, 2024, at the age of 93.

Trent began his Clemson career on July 1, 1961, and retired on July 1, 1993, with a three-year gap from 1964 to 1967. Trent served as director of alumni relations/development/associate professor during his 29 years of service to the University.

Butch Trent’s obituary is available online.

Jo Ann McNatt, Clemson University Professor Emerita of Languages, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 6, 2024.

She began her Clemson career on August 16, 1965, teaching French for 27 years until her retirement on June 30, 1993.

McNatt earned her bachelor’s degree from Furman University, her master’s from Emory University and her doctorate from UNC Chapel Hill.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 4 p.m. at Clemson United Methodist Church.

Her obituary is available online.

Verne House, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology and extension specialist, passed away on September 13, 2024.

House began his Clemson career on February 1, 1989 and retired on June 30, 1998, total more than nine years of service to the University.

Verne House’s obituary is available online.

Renu Chakravarti Laskar, Professor Emerita of Mathematical Sciences, passed away peacefully on September 17, 2024.

Laskar began her Clemson career on August 16, 1968, and retired from the School of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences on March 1, 2006, totaling more than 37 years of service.

Born in Bihar, India, she received the highest score in the state of Bihar when taking the exam to earn her four-year bachelor’s degree. She earned a Fulbright Scholarship and became the first female Indian to earn a doctorate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1962.

After three years at the Indian Institute of Technology (where she became the first female faculty member) and another three at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, she came to Clemson with her husband, renowned physics professor Amulya Lal Laskar.

Laskar was profiled last year in “Women in science: How 5 women with Clemson ties are making a difference.”

A celebration of life is planned for October 19, 2024, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Alameda Family Funeral and Cremation in Saratoga, Calif. Her obituary is available online.

James F. Hodges, retired senior extension agent, passed away on September 8, 2024, at the age of 72.

He began his Clemson career on November 3, 2000, and retired on February 14, 2020, as a senior extension agent for the Greenwood County Extension Office. He served more than 19 years with the University.

His obituary is available online.

Raymond Noblet, retired professor of entomology, passed away on August 6, 2024. He is survived by his wife Gayle Noblet, Professor Emerita of Biological Sciences.

Noblet began his Clemson career on March 1, 1970, retiring in on March 1, 2000, after 30 years of service. He served as president of Faculty Senate and helped establish The Institute for Wildlife and Environmental Toxicology (TIWET) at the University.

His obituary is available online.

Henry Rack, Professor Emeritus of Materials Science & Engineering, passed away on September 11, 2024.

He began his Clemson career on January 7, 1985, and retired under the TERI Retirement Plan on January 1, 2010. He resumed his role as a professor until the end of 2014, capping a nearly 30-year career with the University.

His online obituary and memorial service information will be shared when available.