David L. Honkonen

AIKEN, SC -- DAVID LAURI HONKONEN, 81, beloved husband of Mary Gaffney Honkonen, died unexpectedly Sunday, September 26, 2010 in Cincinnati, OH. A native of Fitchburg, MA, Mr. Honkonen was a son of the late Lauri and Ida Matson Honkonen. He was a graduate of Tufts University with a BS in Nuclear Physics, and moved to Aiken in 1952 from Chicago, IL. He was a retired nuclear physicist, Sr. Fellow with DuPont at the Savannah River Plant, and was an active mentor in the co-op program for many years. Mr. Honkonen was an avid wine maker, and over the years has won a number of ribbons at the South Carolina State Fair. He was also an avid fisherman, skier and golfer. Mr. Honkonen was a former scout master with the Boy Scouts of America Troop 115 at the Knights of Columbus, and was also a former little league baseball coach. He was a past president of Augusta Toastmasters. Mr. Honkonen was a former volunteer with ACTS (Area Churches Together Serving), and ran the senior food program for 12 years. Earlier this year, he received the Outstanding Older South Carolinian award from the Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging. Dave was a loving husband and father. He never met a stranger, had a smile for everyone and was a good friend to all. Survivors, in addition to Mary, his beloved wife of 58 years, include a daughter, Marianne (John) Creely, Kemah, TX, two sons; Jeffrey (Lisa) Honkonen, Chattanooga, TN and Dr. Robert (Mary) Honkonen, Cincinnati, OH, seven grandchildren; Matt Honkonen, Kyle Honkonen, Alex Honkonen, Rob Honkonen, Michael Honkonen, Nicholas Honkonen and Christopher Honkonen, a sister, Eleanor (Roy) Larsen, Aiken, SC and two brothers; Robert (Ann) Honkonen, Westminster, MA and Richard (Carol) Honkonen, Cape Canaveral, FL. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday at 2:00 PM at Southwind Fellowship, 2550 Old Dominion Rd., Aiken, SC. The family will receive friends at the church following the service. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to ACTS Senior Food Program, 340 Park Avenue, SW, Aiken, SC 29801 or your favorite charity. Please visit the online guest register at www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com. SHELLHOUSE - RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of David L. Honkonen, please visit our flower store.