Walter J. Saucier, Sr., professor emeritus at North Carolina State University, age 88, passed away July 17, 2010, from age-related causes at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was born October 5, 1921, at Moncla, Louisiana, a son of Louis Saucier and Sidonie Moncla.
He earned a B.S. in science education at the University of Louisiana - Lafayette in 1942, and a Ph.D. in meteorology at the University of Chicago in 1951. He served in World War II as an air corps weather officer in Europe, then continued in the USAF Reserve and retired at the grade of colonel. In 1944 he served with the 18th Weather Squadron in England, working on weather predictions for the planned D-Day invasion.
Dr. Saucier was the initial faculty appointee establishing meteorology programs in three universities - Texas A&M (1952), University of Oklahoma (1960), and NCSU (1969). Among his publications was a widely-used meteorology textbook, and several works on genealogy and Mississippi Valley history.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Helen Nobles Saucier; by sons Dr. Gerard Saucier of Eugene, OR and Laurence Saucier, of Louisville, KY; by daughters Susanne LeVine of Cornelius, OR, Diane Saucier of Denver, CO, Janine Wood, of Angier, NC, and Loraine Whitehead of Houston, TX; by daughter-in-law Ana M. Saucier of Baton Rouge, LA; and by 14 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister, Rhea White of Baton Rouge, LA and a brother, C.A. Saucier of Larose, LA. He was preceded in death by a son, Walter J. Saucier, Jr.
The family will receive friends between 10:30 AM and 12 noon on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, at the Brown Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 E. Millbrook Rd, Raleigh, with the memorial service following at 12 noon.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Walter J. Saucier Meteorology Scholarship Fund at NCSU. For more information, contact the PAMS Foundation at Campus Box 8201, Raleigh NC 27695, at (919) 515-3462, or online at www.pams.ncsu.edu
Condolences can be sent to the family through www.brownwynne.com.
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