Wolfhard, Hans G. — Age 96 of Fayetteville, TN, died on April 27, 2008 at Lincoln Medical Center.  Hans was a world renowned scientist putting his stamp on rocketry, space surveillance and reentry physics.  Over the course of his career, Hans published well over 30 scientific papers and received many honors and awards in recognition of his contributions to missile defense, science and engineering, including the Congressional Medal of Excellence. Hans had a wonderful sense of humor, was an avid gardener, and had a passion for roses.

Survivors include his wife Clara (Ralston) Wolfhard; sons, Georg and Bernd Wolfhard and wife Vicky, Step-son Fred Ralston, Jr and wife Farris; Step-daughters Clare Ralston and Susan McLain grandchildren, Veronica Wolfhard, Will and Jim Ralston and Alex McLain, .  He was preceded in death by first wife Adelheid (Rhode) Wolfhard, and sons Burckhardt and John Wolfhard.

Hans was born on April 2, 1912 in Basil, Switzerland to Albert Georg and Helen (Buerck) Wolfhard. He was educated at the universities of Berlin, Munich, and Goettingen.  He received his Doctorate in Science in 1939.  

During World War II he served in the German Air Force reserve where he undertook scientific research during the day at the Aeronautica Research Station in Brunswick, and manned an anti aircraft battery at night and during the daytime, and he saved an American Pilot that was shot down.  He never fired a gun.

After the war, Hans moved his family to England where he worked for the Royal Aircraft Establishment researching the spectroscopy of flames until 1956.  From 1956 to 2004, Hans worked in the U.S. at the Bureau of Mines (Pa.), Thiokol Chemical Corp (NJ), and Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) (Va). After retiring from IDA in 1996, he served as a consultant at Arnold Engineering Development Center in TN.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday April 30, at Higgins funeral home with the Reverend Todd Jenkins and Father Jim Rogers officiating.  Memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanities or the Carter Center.