By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Doris Lamb Friedel, a scientist who worked on an atomic airplane prototype, studied what war does to the human brain and researched bacteria, died from complications of Alzheimer's Disease. She was 78.

"She was always very organized, enthusiastic, helpful and a real asset," said her husband Albert F. Friedel Jr. "I don't ever recall a time when she said no to any request for help. One of the interesting things about her it seemed she had a GPS in her head. She never got lost. It was uncanny. She was very bright, a marvelous bridge player."

Mrs. Friedel, of Springfield Township, died Feb. 9 at the Hospice of Cincinnati. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1995.

After graduating in 1947 from Simmons College, School of Science, in Boston, she worked as a research assistant at Yale University Medical School.

She was later recruited by Cincinnati's General Hospital, which is now University Hospital, where she worked as a technician in the neurophysiology department, researching what happened to the brain in wartime conditions.

She met her husband, Albert F. Friedel Jr. of Cincinnati, at a party in Clifton. They married in 1954 in El Paso, Texas where Mr. Friedel was stationed with the Army. When he was transferred to the Army Biological Warfare Research Center at Camp Detrick, in Frederick, Md., Mrs. Friedel worked as a bacteriologist at Camp Detrick.

The Friedels returned to Cincinnati in 1956 after Mr. Friedel completed his military service. She worked at the Kett Corporation, a sub-contractor for General Electric, and was a member of an engineering team that designed the engine inlet and nozzle for the nuclear-powered plant. Congress terminated the project before it was built.

She retired in 1957 when her first child was born, but volunteered as a Scout leader, a teacher and library aide. At Northminster Presbyterian Church, she served as deacon, trustee, Sunday and vacation Bible school teacher and was a member of the Women's Club.

She and her husband traveled extensively and shared an interest in classic cars. They restored two Ford Mustangs and competed throughout the United States for awards for authenticity and workmanship. They won more than 100 trophies.

In addition to her husband of 49 years, her survivors include a son, James, of Loveland; two daughters, Barbara Welsh of West Chester and Carolyn Schmidt of Montgomery; five grandchildren; and a sister, Anne Tiffany of Massachusetts.

A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 703 Compton Road, Finneytown. She will be buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Springdale.

Memorials: Alois Foundation, 70 Damon Road, Cincinnati, OH 45218; Alzheimer's Association, Greater Cincinnati Chapter, 644 Linn St., Cincinnati, OH 45203; or the charity of one's choice.

E-mail kandrew@enquirer.com