Troy Tranter

Troy Joseph Tranter, 49, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away December 17, 2010, while on a work related trip in Nevada. Troy was born April 11, 1961, in Mobile, Alabama, to Bryce Laverne Tranter and Marcella Jean Adams Tranter. He grew up in Tombstone, Arizona, and Flippin, Arkansas, where he attended schools and graduated from high school. Troy married Rhonda Lea Alley on June 28, 1980, in Board Camp, Arkansas. Troy always had a very strong interest and liking for math, science and engineering. He received his Bachelors of Science degree in Environmental Science and Chemistry from Arkansas Technical University in 1983. At that juncture, Troy's illustrious and notable career in nuclear science and engineering began when he took a position as a radiochemist at the Arkansas Nuclear Power Plants in Russellville, Arkansas. In 1990, he moved to Portsmouth, Ohio, and began working at the Uranium Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Troy inherently loved the outdoors and the great American West, so in the fall of 1991, he packed up and moved his family the Idaho Falls area, where he had accepted a position with the Idaho National Laboratory as a radiochemist at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant. From that position, he was rapidly promoted to Group Leader for the Radiochemistry Section, where his responsibilities were expanded to include the supervision of numerous scientific and engineering personnel. Troy's interest in and love for mathematics, science, and engineering was voracious. His thirst for knowledge resulted in a Masters of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, which he completed in 1999. Troy's education culminated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemical Engineering in 2006, both degrees from the University of Idaho. The fact that he was able to complete both of these advanced degrees while raising his family and juggling a full time job is testament to his insatiable quest for knowledge. The importance of completing his education was not, however, Troy's only major technical accomplishment. Since 1998, Troy has been awarded 15 United States Patents and three patents in Russia; he also has four more patents in the works. He also authored or co-authored well over 80 scientific and technical journal articles and book chapters in his field of expertise. Indeed, Dr. Troy Tranter is both well known and respected by colleagues in the United States and abroad, and he has collaborated extensively with several Russian scientific institutes. Troy also received a very prestigious R&D 100 award in 2006, and was nominated for yet another in 2010. Dr. Tranter was also nominated and awarded the Most Outstanding Engineer at the Idaho National Laboratory in 2006. Troy's most recent technical achievement involved serving a liaison and consultant to the Department of Energy in Washington DC for a two year term. Troy was a Christian man. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, horses, camping, hiking, and many other outdoor activities. By raising his family in Idaho, Troy sought to share his love for Creation by taking his family camping, fishing, hunting, and skiing. He was a champion of academics and hard-work, and the fruit of his labors were always looked upon with extreme gratitude and thankfulness by those around him, especially his family. Surviving are his wife, Rhonda Tranter of Idaho Falls, ID; Son, Caleb Joel Tranter of Idaho Falls, ID; Daughter, Rachel Danielle Tranter of Boise, ID; Brother: John Lacerda of Crofton, MD Cousin: Tracie Tranter Linhart of Kansas Cousin: Andie Tranter of Kansas and various other cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and his stepfather, Will Gillespie. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 22, 2010, at the Idaho Falls Calvary Chapel, 4250 South 25th East, with Pastor Rick Brown officiating. The family will visit with friends following the services at the church. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to Arkansas Baptist Children’s Home, P. O. Box 552, Little Rock, AR 72203, or online at www.abchomes.org.

Memorial Services

11 a.m. ,Wednesday, December 22, 2010 Calvary Chapel 4250 South 25th East Idaho Falls, ID 83401 Notes: The family will visit with friends following the services at the church.