Dr. Joellen Lewtas Jungers

Dr. Joellen Lewtas Jungers, PhD, 70, died Sunday, July 6, 2014, at Palm View Rehabilitation and Care Center. She was born March 30, 1944 in Tacoma, Washington. In 1966, Joellen graduated from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. She received her Bachelor’s degree with honors in chemistry. She attended Memphis State University in Memphis, TN from 1967-1969 and graduated from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC with PhD in Biochemistry in 1973. Joellen had a variety of scientific positions starting with Chemist at U.S. Navy Bremerton Shipyard in Washington, High School Chemistry and Physics Teacher in Memphis, TN, Research Assistant at NCSU in Raleigh, NC, and Research Associate at Duke University in Durham, NC. In 1977, she started her career at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) at Research Triangle Park, NC with a series of more responsible positions through Branch Chief of Genetic Bioassay and Epidemiology and Biomarker where she supervised more than 30 Scientists. She was appointed in 1996 to Senior Regional Scientist, office of Scientific Policy Region 10 in Seattle, WA. In 1998, she was appointed to Senior Research Scientist Human Exposure Division Office of Research and Development. She retired from EPA in 2004.

Joellen held many faculty positions from 1979 through 2010 at Duke University, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, the European School of Oncology, and University of Washington. Her professional societies have been many, currently American Association for Cancer Research and International Society of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Formerly, the American Chemical Society (ACS), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Society of Toxicology (SOT), Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) and Sigma XI (an Elected Scientific Honor Society). Her many honors include: ACS award for outstanding graduate in 1966, Bell Telephone Service award for Outstanding Teacher in 1968, Outstanding Young Women of America in 1978, an EPA Silver Medal for Diesel Research in 1980, an EPA Bronze Medal (5), Indoor Air in 1986, Integrated Air Cancer in 1986, Regional Science Council in 1999, Agricultural Burning in 1999, International Project Teplice Program in 2004, and many more national and international honors and awards. She worked with the International Agency for the Research on Cancer (IARC), a part of the World Health Organization (WHO), located in Lyon, France developing several monographs relating to cancer causing chemicals. At a meeting in Washington, D.C. she met a scientist from Czechoslovakia and they collaborated on establishing an international project which is still active today. This Epidemiology project studied the health of Czech citizens in all regions and produced a healthier environment.

Joellen was a woman that loved science and helped others to love science from high school children to her Post Docs. She had a big heart, loved others, and always saw the best in others. She was always happy, fun, and loving. Joellen will be greatly missed.

Joellen was preceded in death by her parents, John G. Lewtas, Jr. and Nedra E. Lewtas of University Place, Washington. She is survived by her husband, Robert H. Jungers of Yuma, AZ; brother, John E. Lewtas (Nadine) of University Place, WA; daughters, Daisy Valerie Williams (Jim) of Kirkland, WA, Theresa Ann Erickson (Mark) of Helena, MT, Ruth Neeley (Hal) of Mount Holly, NC and Gail P. Hulsingh of Minnesota; sons R. Joseph Jungers of Hillsborough, NC, James B. Jungers of Longview, TX, Mark H. Jungers of Alexandria, VA, and David T. Jungers of Chattanooga, TN; grandchildren, Kurtis Erickson of Helena, MT, Kristen A. Erickson of Kallispell, MT and Steven R. Erickson, stationed at London, England; nieces Sarah Lewtas and Nickole Waite; nephew, Ben Lewtas and grand-nephews, Wayne and Jason Pitzen.

Memorial Services will be held on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at the Church

of the Holy Spirit (Episcopalian), 15420 Vashon Highway SW.

Memorial services were held on Thursday, July 24, 2014, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Yuma. Future services will be held at Del Oro Estates in Yuma and Research Triangle Park, NC.

In lieu of flowers, make contributions in her name to Hospice Compassus, 1025 W. 24th Ste 15, Yuma, AZ 85364. www.hospicecompassus.com.

Please sign the guestbook at http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/yumasun/

Paid Obituary.