Lloyd S. Jernell, 94, of Hampton, Virginia, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2026, at his daughter’s home.
He was born in Roanoke, Virginia, to the late Edna M. Frantz Jernell and S. A. Jernell. He spent his boyhood in Roanoke during the Great Depression, an experience that shaped his character. At 17, he joined the Army and served in Germany after World War II.
When he returned home, he completed high school, married his sweetheart, started a family, and earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute with support from the GI Bill—all within five years.
Lloyd had a love for aviation and worked at NASA Langley Research Center until his retirement in 1987. There he researched and tested design models in NASA’s supersonic and hypersonic wind tunnels beginning with the Blue Scout rocket in the 1960’s. He was fortunate to spend his career at NASA doing work he loved during the height of the space age.
After retirement, Lloyd pursued ultralight flying, building his airplanes in his garage and flying for the next three decades out of the Chesapeake Airport and Beaver Dam in Surry. “Those were some of the best times of my life”. Lloyd proudly owned and drove two classic cars; a 1977 Corvette and a 1971 Dodge Polara. He especially enjoyed bringing his Corvette to his local Chevy dealer for complimentary oil changes for nearly 50 years.
In his later years, Lloyd remained close to his family. His great-grandson Kenneth had an early fascination with airplanes, and he and little Kenneth would go to fly-ins, museums, and sit together looking at books and videos of planes. Grandpa could always tell him the name of the warbird, what country made it, when, and what made it great.
Lloyd was predeceased by his son, Paul A. Jernell and granddaughter, Ashley J. Burke. He is survived by his two daughters, Susan Renee Mari (Mauro) of Switzerland and Lynn M. Jernell (Barry Nachman) of Williamsburg; his grandchildren, Angie J. Adams (Garrett) and Kenneth F. Wilson, II (Christina) and great-grandchildren, Garrett Adams, II, Liam Adams, Matthew Jernell, Eric Burke, Graydon Roark, Kenneth F. Wilson, III, Sophia Grace Wilson and Clara Ann Wilson.
Lloyd made many friends throughout his life and outlived most of them. He will be remembered for his perseverance, love of family, intellect and determination. At his request, his ashes will be spread over the fields and forests of the Dismal Swamp, where he loved to fly.
