YORKTOWN - Cornelius "Neil" Driver of Yorktown died on July 29, 2009 at the age of 83. He was Vice President of Eagle Aeronautics and a retired Aeronautical Systems Chief at NASA Langley Research Center. Neil died peacefully surrounded by his six children at the Walter Reed Convalescent Center in Gloucester. A 10 year cancer survivor his, body was weakened by chemo treatments, but strengthened by his perseverance in the application of electronic and naturopathic research.
Neil was born Oct. 19, 1925 in Timberville, Va., as the oldest son of Carroll and Juanita Bell Driver. He graduated from Stonewall High School in Clearbrook, Va. He was a pilot in the Army Air Corp during World War II. Neil married his high school sweetheart, Juanita Brown Scrivener from Stephenson Va., in 1947. He earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1950. A Peninsula resident for 58 years, Neil raised his six children with Juanita in Marlbank Farm. For the past 28 years, he resided in Piney Point Estates of Grafton.
Neil's second wife, Gloria W. Driver; his six children; his brother; and their extended families survive him.
His first wife; a grandson; and a grandson-in-law preceded him in death.
Neil's 35 year career with NASA began in 1950 as a research engineer with NASA's predecessor agency, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. His early career was spent in experimental wind tunnel research and integrated design of supersonic cruise aircraft such as the B-70.
In the 1960s, Neil was pivotal in the US Supersonic Transport and Supersonic Cruise Aircraft Research efforts, leading the coordination with the FAA, Boeing, Lockheed and McDonnell-Douglas. Neil developed lifelong associations with the employees of these companies throughout the course of the supersonic development, including the executives of Pratt & Whitney, and General Electric.
In 1971, Neil had a temporary assignment to the Pentagon for presidential and congressional assistance in assessing military aircraft (US Navy F-14 and USAF F-15). He authored or co-authored more than 50 technical reports and papers; received two awards from the Federal Aviation Administration for his work on the supersonic transport evaluation teams; and received two Langley awards for leadership in supersonics. He served as Chief of the Aeronautical Systems Division Office from January 1979 to 1986, with responsibility for determining payoff of technology advances for all aircraft, except helicopters. After his NASA career, Neil transitioned to the private sector, founding Eagle Engineering with the assistance of NASA retiree Betty Joyner in 1986.
During the past 22 years, as President of Eagle Engineering and VP of Eagle Aeronautics, Neil worked with Nordam to develop noise suppression for the Boeing 737. Neil was an Associate Fellow of the AIAA and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Neil was a strong NASA supporter, heading the NASA-Langley alumni association and chairing the last NACA reunion.
Memorial Services will be held at 1 p.m. on August 8 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Newport News.
Memorial donations may be sent to York County Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 532, Yorktown, VA 23690. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.
— Excerpted from the Daily Press
