Dr. Edgar L. McDaniel

Dr. Edgar L. McDaniel of Kingsport died on Friday, February 16, 2018.

Born in Augusta, Georgia, Ed was a resident of Kingsport from 1956 until his death. He was a graduate of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a BS and MS in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry. Ed also held an Atomic Energy Commission fellowship and then was a National Science Foundation Predoctoral Fellow while in graduate school.

Ed joined the Eastman Chemical Company Division of Eastman Kodak Company as a research chemist and later served in several management positions in Research and Development. He retired as Director of External Product Development in 1993. He served many years on the Board of Visitors of both the Department of Chemistry and the College of Arts and Sciences at UT. He was awarded the Chancellor's Citation in 1996 for extraordinary service to the University.

Ed was a co-founder and co-director of the Kingsport Science Seminar in 1958 and an Emeritus Member of the American Chemical Society. He was a 47-year member of the Kiwanis Club of Kingsport, and had served in several elected positions. An active member of Friends of the Kingsport Public Library, Ed served as President and assisted in establishing the Endowment Fund, serving for eight years.

He was a member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church since 1956. He and Katherine led the Challengers Class for several years, before becoming members of the Philosophy Class.

Ed's wife, Katherine, was his partner and close friend for 63 years, he married the girl he loved and enjoyed a long and happy life with her.

Ed studied and worked in the field of chemistry, which he dearly loved, and he enjoyed living in Kingsport and being active in his community.

Ed's hobbies included photography, camping and hiking in the mountains, and traveling with his family and many friends. He remained a lifelong student who loved to learn and never ceased trying to find the answers to life's mysteries.

He was preceded in death by his father, Edgar L. McDaniel, Sr., and by his mother, Lessie O. McDaniel.

Ed is survived by his wife, Katherine Taylor McDaniel; son, Bill McDaniel of Kingsport; daughter, Betsy McDaniel Boyer; son-in-law, Andy Boyer; grandson, Henry Boyer of Normandy Park, Washington; brothers, Robert L. McDaniel (Becky) of Maryville, TN, and G. Michael McDaniel (Betty) of Clive, Iowa; brother-in-law, J. Spurgeon McCartt of Kingsport and sister-in-law, Betty Lee Thompson of Morehead, KY. nieces, Peg Hess (Howard), Anne McCartt (Michael Crucio), Kathy Erickson (Jon), Katherine Schilling (Robbie), Linda Baber (Mark), Denise Koester (Kurt), Stephanie Mayo (S.M.), and Jana Jensen (Tyler), and nephews, Jim McCartt, David Thompson, and Mike McDaniel (Kirby).

The graveside service will be held on Friday, February 23, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

The memorial service will be held on Saturday February 24, 2018 at 11:00 am at First Broad Street United Methodist Church Chapel with The Rev. Joe Green and The Rev. Jack P. Weikel officiating. The family will receive friends at the church following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Broad Street United Methodist Church, 100 East Church Circle, Kingsport, TN 37660 or to the Hilton A. Smith Chemistry Endowment, University of Tennessee Department of Chemistry, https://www.chem.utk.edu/giving.

Cemetery Details