William Eugene Austin, 88, physicist worked on Apollo program.

William Eugene Austin, 88, of Wayne, Pa., a physicist who contributed to several U.S. defense and space missions, including the Apollo lunar program, died at his home Friday following a battle with pneumonia.

Mr. Austin worked for the General Electric Company between 1965 and 1975, and designed the heat shield used in the Apollo modules as well as parts of satellites, rockets and engines.

He was also one of the physicists integral to the early development of the space shuttle.

He received several awards and commendations for his work, and owned a patent for a device that measured in-flight gamma ray levels generated by a nuclear rocket.

Prior to GE, Mr. Austin worked at Lockheed Martin in Georgia from 1958-1961 and Westinghouse in Pittsburgh from 1961-1964.

Mr. Austin was born and raised in Pershing, Okla., before moving to Lake Charles, La., in 1946. A Navy veteran of World War II, Austin served in the Pacific as a sonar man aboard the USS Duncan from 1944-1945.

In 1949, he earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Louisiana State University before accepting a job at the U.S. Naval Laboratory in White Oak, Md., where he worked until 1955.

It was in his White Oak apartment building that Mr. Austin met his wife, Isabel, a fellow tenant. The two often ate together in the dining room. They were engaged in 1951 and shared 63 years of marriage.

Following his retirement in 1975 due to a disability, the couple traveled the country extensively, and made trips to Australia, New Zealand, South America, Turkey and Russia.

Always trying to develop ideas by the seat of his pants, his son, Jim said, Austin built a solar panel above his driveway to generate hot water for the family during the oil crisis of 1973.

Austin attempted to sell the plans to energy companies, but the idea never took hold.

"He was ahead of his time when it came to solar power," Jim Austin said. "Just a smart, creative man."

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Austin is survived by daughters Elizabeth Disciascio and Catherine Paski, son William G. Austin, a brother, sister and several grandchildren.

Services will be held today at 11 a.m. at Alleva Funeral Home, 1724 Lancaster Ave., Paoli, Pa., 19301. Burial will follow at St. Agnes Cemetery, West Chester.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Austin's name to the Foundation Fighting Blindness, PO Box 17279, Baltimore, MD 21298-9581.