Obituaries

After World War II, he continued to work for the Army on proximity fuzes until joining the Diamond lab. He became known for his ability to invent on demand, and he received a cash patent award from the Army in 1959, according to The Washington Post.

Mr. Biggar worked on such diverse matters as materials used in guided missile fuzing and the development of a thin-film battery for the National Weather Service's high-altitude balloon. That battery was later used by Polaroid in its film packs and by the U.S. Postal Service to power a thin-film radio transmitter used to monitor the flow of mail in large postal facilities to prevent pilferage.

He worked with a team on designing miniature shortwave radio receivers for the Army's use and for which he invented the miniature tuning mechanism. The receivers were displayed at the Smithsonian Institution.

Mr. Biggar and a co-inventor created the inflating device for a large metallic balloon, Echo II, used as an early communications satellite. He formulated and hand-mixed the adhesive used when the balloon was launched to keep it from inflating prematurely. Echo II remained in orbit for more than two years and was the subject of a postage stamp.

Mr. Biggar and his colleague received letters of commendation from NASA for their solution to the problem of inflating the balloon without exploding it. He received many other government honors for work related to fuzes.

He served regularly as a judge in Northern Virginia science fairs. In his 80s, he learned to use a computer and digital camera and created digital photo shows to present to groups.

He was a member of the Potomac Rose Society and Mount Olivet United Methodist Church in Arlington.

Survivors include his wife, Sarah R. Biggar of Arlington; a daughter, Sallie Ann Biggar of Fairfax Station; and three grandsons.

-- Patricia Sullivan

Gretchen A. OsgoodPublic Health Service Official

Gretchen A. Osgood, 86, who retired in 1986 as deputy director of the U.S. Public Health Service's nursing division, died of cardiopulmonary arrest July 20 at her home in Chevy Chase.