John Howard Proctor of Williamsburg, a noted industrial and organizational psychologist, died Nov. 28, 2013, at his home.
Dr. Proctor earned a BS degree from Davidson College and a Masters and PhD from Purdue University. During his life he served as Chaplain, Patrick Henry Chapter #34 Disabled American Veterans (Korean War Veteran); was a Life Fellow of the Washington Academy of Sciences, serving a term as President; Life Fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences, serving as Secretary General, 1983-1996; Corresponding Fellow of the Royal Spanish Academy of Sciences and a Full Foreign Fellow of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
He was a member of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Division 14 of the American Psychological Association and Organizational Affiliate of the American Psychological Society and a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology.
Dr. Proctor worked with several government agencies in the areas of productivity, organization, the war on drugs, change of command procedures and helped to write the escape and evasion manuals used in the Vietnam War as senior technical advisor to the Air Force at Eglin AFB, Fla. He was the principal in Data Solutions Corporation (1974-1983) and currently was President of John H. Proctor & Associates, LLC. He was the author of four books and over 70 monographs, articles, technical manuals and blogs.
Known for his deep bass voice, Dr. Proctor sang with several choral groups in the Washington area, participating in the recording of Rachmaninoff’s Vespers with Maestro Mistaslav Rastropovich. He also sang in Rachmaninoff Hall, Moscow, Russia in 1991 with the select choir from Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, Virginia and performed solos in Moscow, Bryansk and Kyursk, Russia and Odessa, Ukraine from 1991-2011.
A member of Walnut Hills Baptist Church, Williamsburg, he served as an Adult Bible Study teacher, member of the Wednesday morning Men’s Prayer Group and the Sanctuary Choir. As an ordained Deacon he began to dedicate himself to missions around the world in his early 60s. His work with Grace Baptist Church, Odessa, Ukraine and the support of the Children’s Shelter and Transition House were very special to him.
Dr. Proctor held the distinction of being the youngest Eagle Scout in North Carolina in the 1940s, having to wait a year to be old enough to receive the award.
Dr. Proctor is preceded in death by his daughter, Lynn Proctor Parker; his step-son, Christopher L. Crye; and his parents, John C. and Carolyn Hancher-Slade Proctor.
He is survived by his wife, Karen (KJ) Boyer Proctor; his children, Susan Carol Proctor King, John Christopher Proctor, James Alexander Proctor, John Boyer Crye and Daniel Danckwerth; sister, Nancy Proctor Turner; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, 2013 at Nelsen Funeral Home. Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013 at Walnut Hills Baptist Church, 1014 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Sanctuary Choir of Walnut Hills Baptist Church, Williamsburg, or to the ministry of Grace Baptist Church, Odessa, Ukraine through the supervision of Walnut Hills Baptist Church, 1014 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Nelsen Funeral Home.