Dr. Richard Wotring Gemmel, 78, of Slatington, died on April 25, 2020, in Cedarbrook, Fountain Hill.

Born July 17, 1941, in Allentown, he was the son of the late John G. and Lila M. (George) Gemmel.

A 1959 graduate of Parkland High School, he furthered his education by earning a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Temple University.

While at Temple, he was co-captain of the soccer team.

He was a chemical engineer for RCA Victor, Camden, N.J., in the RCA Victor’s Space and Defense Division for 10 years.

His proudest achievements involved his work on the Apollo 11 Space Mission, where he assisted in the development of the circuitry involved in the lunar landing and first lunar walk.

He also approved all the circuitry used in both the televisions and television cameras which made possible everyone on Earth to watch the astronauts as they positioned the American flag on the lunar surface.

Often sent to RCA’s Studio A and B in Nashville, Tenn., to trouble shoot any problems that arose while recording music, he also worked on the circuitry of RCA’s Spectra 70 computers.

He returned to the Lehigh Valley, and along with his partners, Joseph J. Hartmann and Lila M. Gemmel, owned and operated the former Ballietsville Inn for 26 years before retiring in 1997.

His restaurant memberships included membership in the Lehigh Valley Restaurant Association from 1972-97 for which he served a year as chapter president and 17 years as treasurer, first vice president of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association, The Chaine des Rotisseurs and The Ordre Mondial in Paris and The National Restaurant Association Education Foundation.

For 14 consecutive years, the Ballietsville Inn garnered the coveted Mobil Four-Star Rating and many numerous fine dining awards.

Having a great interest in history, he was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Lehigh County Historical Society, and the National Historical Society.

He was a member of Union United Church of Christ, Neffs.

His survivors include a sister Sue Ann Pechacek and her husband, Daniel, of Allentown; niece Danielle; nephew Thomas; and business partner and lifelong friend, Joseph J. Hartmann of Slatington.

A private funeral service will be held in Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., Schnecksville, with the Rev. Kris P. Snyder-Samuelson officiating. There will be no public calling hours.

Entombment will follow at Grandview Chapel Mausoleum, South Whitehall.

A video of the service will be available on the evening of May 1 on the funeral home website heintzelmancares.com.

Click on his obituary for the link.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lehigh County Humane Society and/or to the church memorial fund both c/o the funeral home, P.O. Box 196, Schnecksville, PA 18078-0196.