Ralph C. Schreyer | Research chemist, 87

Ralph C. Schreyer, 87, a retired research chemist, died Friday of complications from pneumonia at Kendal-Crosslands, a retirement community in Kennett Square.

A native of Washington, D.C., Dr. Schreyer earned a bachelor's degree from the Catholic University of America. During World War II, while a graduate student at Purdue University, he worked on the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb.

After earning a doctorate in organic chemistry from Purdue in 1946, he joined DuPont Co. in Wilmington. In the 1960s, he worked at DuPont's experimental station in Gibbstown, N.J., traveling by ferry from home in Wilmington. For 12 years until he retired in 1984, Dr. Schreyer was a patent agent in DuPont's petrochemical department in Wilmington. He was an expert in polymer technology, his son James said, and was granted 50 patents. He was a lifetime member of the American Chemical Society.

Dr. Schreyer was a silver master with the American Contract Bridge League and still played several times a week, his son said.

Since 1944 he had been married to Marie Dennison "Denny" Schreyer. They participated in more than 60 Elderhostel programs in the United States and abroad.

Dr. Schreyer is also survived by a son Robert.

Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Lower Brandywine Cemetery, Route 52 and Old Kennett Road, Greenville, Del. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at Hanover Presbyterian Church, 18 Baynard Blvd., Wilmington.