Obituary of Egbert Davis Maynard, Jr.

E. D. “Sonny” Maynard, Jr.

On April 29, 2017, Egbert Davis “Sonny” Maynard Jr. passed peacefully in his sleep at his home in Potomac Falls, VA.  He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Joann Bratcher Maynard; his daughter Samantha and her husband Shawn Toney; his daughter Joann Reed; his son Peter and his wife Anna (Smith); and his grandchildren Justin, Megan, Molly, Brian, Luke, and Ian.

Sonny was born in Montgomery, WV on July 5, 1939 to Egbert Sr. and Anne (Lawrence).  He received his Bachelors of Science in electrical engineering from the Speed Scientific School at the University of Louisville.  He would go on to be a leading force in the research and development of semiconductors and integrated circuits for the defense industry.  His work lead to receipt of an honorary Master’s degree.

He began his career as an officer in the United States Air Force at the Air Force Avionics Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.  After an honorable discharge, he worked as a civilian for the Air Force for several years.  Following an inter-service transfer he started working as the Department Head of the Technical Program Office for Naval Oceans Systems Center for the Navy at Point Loma, CA.  In July 1983, he became Director, Computer & Electronics Division for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon where he ran the VHSIC and MIMIC programs.  In September 1988, he retired from government service.  Not content to remain in retirement, Sonny became VP of the Electronics Division at McDonnell Douglas in Saint Louis, MO.  Following his service at McDonnell Douglas he became Director, Microsystems Technology for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).  In June 1998, he became VP at the Semiconductor Research Corporation in RTP, NC.  He served as Director, Trusted Foundry Program for DARPA from October 2004 through 2008, and then as a consultant for the Defense Micro Electronic Activity before finally retiring from a full career in 2011.

He was deeply loved and will be sorely missed.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association at: http://act.alz.org/goto/sonny-maynard