Richard W. Traxler

Richard W. Traxler, PhD, 82, of Southwinds Dr., Wakefield, died Sunday Dec. 5,2010. He was the husband of Carolyn (Cain) Traxler for 58 years. Born in New Orleans, LA, he was the son of the late Ralph N. and Mabel (Barnett) Traxler. Dr. Traxler was a professor of Microbiology at the University of Rhode Island for twenty-eight years before retiring in 1998. He served in the US Army during the Korean War and retired as a Major after twenty-three years of reserve service. Dr. Traxler received his BA, MA and PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. He taught at the University of Southwest Louisiana at Lafayette for thirteen years before coming to Kingston in 1971. Dr. Traxler was chairman of the departments of Plant Pathology and Etymology and Food Science and Nutrition at U.R.I. He was a published author in many professional journals and an internationally recognized Microbiologist. He was a member of American Society for Microbiology and the Society for Industrial Microbiology. Besides his wife he leaves three daughters, Marla Farrow and her husband Wayne of Leominster, MA, Suzanne Godin and her husband Paul of North Yarmouth, ME and Carol Traxler of North Providence, RI and two grandchildren, Jessica Parsons and Brian Godin. He was the brother of the late Ralph N. Traxler Jr. A memorial service will be held Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010 at 11:00 AM in the Peace Dale Congregational Church, 261 Columbia St., Peace Dale. Visiting hours will be Tuesday 4-6 PM in the Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St., Wakefield. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association, 245 Waterman St., Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906.