Albert Y. Sun, Ph.D., of Columbia went to be with the Lord at the age of 79 on Monday, April 30, 2012, at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Ill. Private funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 5, at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home in Naperville, Ill., with interment in the Naperville Cemetery. A memorial service will be held in Columbia at a later date to be announced. Born on Oct. 13, 1932, in Amoy, China, he was the firstborn child of Pei Chen and Siu-Ho Wu. He was the beloved husband of Grace; loving father of Aggie (Wen-Chung Lin) Sun; grandfather of Joshua and Caleb Lin; dear brother of Ming-Ming (Cheng-Yang Fang) Wu, Ching-Ching (Yin-Ling Hou) Wu, Allan (Amy) Wu, Angela (George Hsi) Sun, Hsin-Hsin (Julia J.) Chou, You-Shia (Ker-Lien Lee) Wu and Bessie (Sam) Yang. He also is survived by 15 nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and one nephew. Professor Emeritus Albert Sun received his Bachelor of Science from the National Taiwan University, his doctorate from Oregon State University and postdoctoral training from Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Sun started his work as a neuroscientist at the Cleveland Psychiatric Institute prior to joining the University of Missouri in 1974 at the Sinclair Research Farm and the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, and subsequently the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences. Dr. Sun also was a faculty member of the MU Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program and the Center for Translational Neuroscience. Dr. Sun carried out pioneer research work on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and neuronal excitotoxicity. As a founding member of the American Society for Neurochemistry and the Society for Neuroscience, Dr. Sun made significant contributions to understanding the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. Besides being a great mentor to many students, postdocs and junior faculty, he was a devoted Christian, setting an example of faith, service and humility for those who were blessed to be influenced by him. He and his wife started the Columbia Chinese Christian Fellowship, which became today's Columbia Chinese Christian Church. As an elder of the church, he devoted much time and energy to his ministry among Chinese students and families. He served as a board member of the Christian Witness Center in Warsaw, Mo., for more than 30 years.