Rao H. Lindsay, 86, died Wednesday, December 16, 2015 from complications related to prostate cancer. He was preceded in death by his daughter Suzanne, his wife Marilyn, and his brothers Harold and Willard.

Rao lived many lives in his 86 years, ranging from Dingle, Idaho, farm boy riding cows to the milking barn; to LDS missionary in Beirut Lebanon and Damascus Syria; to soldier in Germany; to scholar at BYU; to PhD in Education at the University of Michigan; to professor at the University of Maryland; to LDS Sunday school teacher; to English teacher in Thailand and China; and always husband, father and friend. He cared lovingly for Marilyn as her health declined. In his final years, he lived his own active and reflective expression of heart, mind and body. In each of those lives, he was energetic, provocative, and thoughtful, bringing to each encounter his attention, curiosity, and questions.

He served in the LDS Palestine/Syria Mission (Beirut Lebanon) from 1949 to 1951 and in the British Mission from 1951 to 1952. He received his BA from BYU in 1954 and his MA in 1958. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1964. After graduating from Michigan, he accepted a position as a professor on the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Education in College Park, Maryland. He taught undergraduate and graduate classes at Maryland as well as supervising various Ph.D. students until his retirement in 1994. Rao and Marilyn then taught English in China 1995-96, and in Thailand 1997-98. He is survived by family and friends, including his sisters Mary and Ellen, and his sons Michael, Greg, and Sean.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. MST, at the LDS church he attended, located at 2795 Crestview Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to LDS Humanitarian Services or The Perpetual Education Fund c/o LDS Philanthropies, 1450 N. University Ave., Provo, UT 84604.

Condolences can be sent to 8358 East Otero Place, Centennial CO, 80112 or posted on his Facebook page.