This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marcenath Surnames: Todsen, Christensen, Dorsey Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newmexico.counties.donaana/5079/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Dr. Thomas K. "Tom" Todsen passed away Wednesday, December 22, 2010, at Wind-crest Alzheimer's Care Center in Abilene, Texas. Private services will be held in Las Cruces, New Mexico, at a later date. Tom was born October 21, 1918, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to Lorenz K. Todsen and Ellen (Christensen) Todsen. After his father's death in 1930, the family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where Tom graduated from St. Petersburg High in 1935. When he took his college entrance exams, he received the highest score in the entire state of Florida. Tom earned his Bachelor's in 1939 and his Master's in 1941, both in chemistry, from the University of Florida, Gainesville. Tom met Margaret C. Dorsey at the university; they married August 4, 1939. Tom entered active duty in March 1942 as an Army Chemical Warfare Service officer. He was in the Chemical Corps throughout World War II, and was honorably discharged as a Captain in August 1947. He was in the Army Active Reserves from 1951-1962, attaining the rank of Major. Tom received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Florida in 1950, and taught at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico, until May 1950. In June 1950, Tom was hired as Chief Chemist at White Sands Missile Range; he designed the Range's first chemical laboratory. He promoted rapidly up the civilian ranks, culminating with his installation as Director of the Army Missile Test and Evaluation Command, one of the top civilian positions at the post. He served in that capacity for many years before retiring from WSMR in 1978. Tom then turned his full attention to pursuing his varied interests in Arizona/ New Mexico postal history; hiking around the U.S., Mexico and Central America in search of wild orchids; and wildflower photography. Several of his photographs appear in the multi-volume "Wildflowers of the United States". Tom resided in Las Cruces until late 2009, when he moved to Abilene, Texas. Tom lived at Wisteria Place Assisted Living in Abilene for more than a year before transferring to Windcrest. Tom was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church in Las Cruces. He served as an elder and lay pastor as well as with various outreach committees and groups. His warm bass singing voice was well known at the church. Tom was constantly on the go, always seeking new places and new subjects to explore. He discovered a new species of fossil snail, and a new wildflower that bears his name: Todsen's pennyroyal (Hedeoma todsenii). He helped extend the known range of several varieties of mosses in the New Mexico deserts, literally turning over rocks to discover them. He authored a book on New Mexico territorial postmarks, and coauthored one on the "travelling" (railroad) post offices of Mexico. For all his intellect and scientific rigor, Tom was also a consummate "people person" who inspired his coworkers to give their best. He was well known and highly respected by the staff at WSMR and NMSU, as well as by the many people he met from around the world through his correspondence and travels. Tom was devoted to his family and friends. He was unstintingly generous with his time, talents, treasure and affection, and held a genuine interest in and appreciation of the world around him and all that in! habited it. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Lorenz and Ellen Todsen; by his wife of nearly 49 years, Margaret Todsen; and by his older brother, Birger Todsen. Survivors include son Thomas A. Todsen and wife Barbara of Las Cruces; son William (Larry) Todsen and wife Purita of Abilene; grandson John and his wife Andrea and daughters Anna and Aubrey; grandson Pete; grandson Adrian; sister Erna Harmon of St. Petersburg, Florida; sister-in-law Roberta Collar of Ocala, Florida; and numerous nephews and nieces. Online condolences may be posted at www.elmwoodfuneral.com. Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on December 31, 2010 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.