Clyde Kearns

Clyde W. Kearns, 82, an entomologist and University of Illinois professor emeritus, died Tuesday (June 18, 1991) at Memorial Hospital, Modesto, Calif.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Salas Brothers Chapel, 419 Scenic Drive, Modesto, Calif.

Mr. Kearns was born at Denver, Colo.

Survivors include his wife, Camille Kearns; a daughter, Camille Jones of Riverside, Calif.; two sons David R. Kearns of LaJolla, Calif., and Thomas R. Kearns of Amherst, Mass.; and five grandchildren.

Mr. Kearns earned a bachelor of science degree at the Colorado School of Mines, Fort Collins, and a doctoral degree at the University of Illinois.

He joined the UI department of entomology in 1933 and remained with the department until his retirement in 1970. He conducted research aimed at understanding the biochemistry of insecticides. In 1982, the North American Entomological Society dedicated a symposium to his work, lauding him as a "pioneer in insecticide toxicology."

During much of his career, Mr, Kearns was a consultant for Shell Development in Modesto and was named director of Shell's Sittingbourne Research Center in England from 1971 to 1977.

He was a fly fisherman and tied his own flies and crafted split bamboo rods. He also played golf during his later years.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Nature Conservancy, 785 Market St., San Francisco, Calif., 94103.

Submitted by Dick Kearns