Homer C. Potonides of South Palm Beach died Tuesday, July 8, 2008. He was 85.

Mr. Potonides, formerly of Long Island, was a local resident for more than 20 years.

Born in Limassol, Cyprus, Greece, Mr. Potonides was a mechanical and aeronautical engineer who won several patents and invention awards, which include the air-conditioning thermostat, design of the propulsion normal shock control in the Air Force 105 Supersonic Bomber, the invention of the Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft and a number of other supersonic airplanes.

He also worked on the Lunar Excursion Module and was among the engineers who instructed astronaut Neil Armstrong about its use.

Mr. Potonides attended St. Catherine's Greek Orthodox Church in West Palm Beach.

While living on Long Island, he was a charter member of St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Church in Hempstead and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Hicksville.

He is survived by his wife, Antigone Diane Potonides; a daughter, Mary Ann Babnis, also of Palm Beach; a son, Roy C. Potonides of Centerreach, N.Y.; and a granddaughter, Christine Babnis of Massapequa, N.Y.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Quattlebaum Funeral Home, 1201 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, followed by a Trisagion service at 4 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Catherine's Greek Orthodox Church with the Rev. Gregory Champion officiating. Interment will follow at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery in Royal Palm Beach.

Memorial contributionsmay be made to St. Catherine's Greek Orthodox Church, 110 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33405, or the American Heart Association, 2300 Centrepark West Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33409.