Joe Forrest Wampler, 87, of Lincoln, died December 19. He was born December 13, 1926 to Charles and Lillys Wampler in Chanute, Kansas. He attended Chanute public schools, graduated from Kansas University with a B.A. and M.A. and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska/Lincoln. He served in the Navy 1944–1946 and was discharged with the rank of Lieutenant JG. In 1949 Joe married Doris Barsby of Savonburg, Kansas.
After completing his Masters degree he taught mathematics at York College for three years and then joined the faculty at Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1954 where he enjoyed his teaching and association with that institution for 38 years. Appreciating the importance of continuing education, Dr. Wampler was a frequent participant in the National Science Foundation summer training institutes and short courses for teaching professionals. Since 1952 he was a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Nebraska section of the Mathematics Association of America, where he served twice as Chair. He last served as its Secretary/Treasurer.
While at Wesleyan he had a one-year Woods Foundation Grant for study and was named to the Anderson-Trimble-Maurer Endowed Chair in Mathematics and Computer Science in 1987–1990. He was Head of the Department of Mathematics from 1954–1983 and Chairman of the Division for Natural Sciences 1971–1976. Dr. Wampler published a variety of articles and monographs on subjects including cryptology, integer programming, statistics and concepts of function. He was named Professor in Mathematics in 1967 and Professor Emeritus of Mathematics in 1992.
Joe was an active member of First United Methodist Church since 1954, served on a number of committees and was a member of the choir for 30 years. He enjoyed his family, teaching, music, world travels and hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park.
Family members include his wife Doris of 64 years, sons David (Tracy Wilson) of Becket, Massachusetts, Dean (Vicki Belz) of Omaha, grandchildren Travis (Kate Whalen) and Ashley Gloystein (Jesse) of Omaha, and great grandchildren Benjamin Wampler, Reese. Reagan and Paige Gloystein all of Omaha. He also leaves a brother, Dean Delos Wampler, of Schenectady, New York.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A service in Celebration of his Life will be held at First United Methodist Church in Lincoln, 50th and St. Paul, Lincoln on Saturday, January 18 at 1:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dr. Joe F. and Doris C. Wampler Endowed Scholarship at Nebraska Wesleyan University or to First United Methodist Church.