Richard Allen Rankin
Richard Allen Rankin died June 12. He was 67.
Rankin was born July 4, 1954, in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, to Allen Rankin and Betty Jane Crawford. He graduated from Winter High School in Winter, Wisconsin. He acquired a bachelor’s of science in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, master’s of science in chemistry from University of Idaho, and multiple doctorate degrees from British charter schools.
On Nov. 7, 1980, he married Janice Marie Cotterell in Idaho Falls, Idaho Temple. He enjoyed a historic career as a technology transfer professional with more than 35 years’ experience in the development, management and commercialization of innovative technology. He served in several roles in technology transfer and commercialization, including most recently the director of the Innovation and Partnerships Office at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and previously at Idaho National Laboratory as the head of the INL Technology Transfer Office. He also managed the licensing, business development, intellectual property and international activities of the Laboratory, and as a principal investigator and manager in the R&D organizations. A recipient of the INL Lifetime Achievement Award for Inventorship, he was inducted into the INL Inventors Hall of Fame in 2003. Amongst others, he has received an R&D 100 Award, a George Westinghouse Innovation Award for the Westinghouse Corporations' top inventors, and a George Westinghouse Signature Award for engineering excellence.
He is survived by his wife, Janice Rankin; son, Collin Rankin; son, Joshua (Charlee) Rankin; son, Christopher Rankin; daughter, Lindsay Rankin; son, Brian (Emily) Rankin; son, Andrew (Kristen) Rankin; brother, Robert Rankin; grandchildren, Aliyah Rankin, Ryder Rankin, Austin Rankin, Abigail Rankin, Bailee Rankin, Claire Rankin, Amelia Rankin, Liam Rankin, Mila Rankin, Aria Ritthaler, Benjamin Rankin, and Brooklyn Rankin. He was preceded in death by his parents, Allen and Betty Rankin.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 18, at Sand Creek 2nd Ward, 2545 Mesa St., with Bishop Andrew Trane officiating. The family will visit with friends Friday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at The Brickyard Event Center, 1025 S. Ammon Road, and Saturday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the Ammon Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.
