William R. Forlifer, 80, a longtime resident of Arnold, died of pulmonary fibrosis May 5 at Anne Arundel Medical Center after a lengthy illness.

Born May 15, 1926, in Baltimore, Mr. Forlifer was raised in Parkville and Towson, graduating in 1943 from Towson High School. After serving in the Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1946, he graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J., in 1947 and received a master's degree in 1962 from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

He had a 24-year career with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at the Goddard Space Center in Greenbelt.

Surviving are his wife, Ethel E. Harryman Forlifer, whom he married Feb. 6, 1945; four sons, Richard Forlifer of Okeechobee, Fla., Bill Forlifer of Easton, George Forlifer of Corriganville in Allegany County and Jack Forlifer of Arnold; one daughter, Linda Forlifer of Baltimore; one brother, Kenneth Forlifer of Bel Air; one sister, Judith Anne Somers of Linthicum; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. May 23 at Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway. Services and burial are private.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 1332 N. Halsted St., Suite 201, Chicago, IL 60622. Online condolences can be made to www.barrancofuneralhome.com

As published on 5/17/2007 in The Capital Newspaper, Annapolis, MD