Dr. Fonda, GE Radar Pioneer, Dies at 86 - Services for Dr. Gorton R. Fonda, 86, of the Beechwood Retirement Home in Williamsville, a retired research chemist at the General Electric Research and Development Laboratory who died Saturday, will be held Friday at 32 Windermere Road, Rochester. A native of New York City, Dr. Fonda was graduated from New York University in 1907. He then went to the University of Karlsruhe in Germany for further graduate work, receiving a doctor of engineering degree in 1910. After returning to the U.S., Dr. Fonda joined the staff of the GE Research Laboratory in Schenectady the same year. Most of his work was concerned with methods of light production, initially studying the tungsten filament for the incandescent lamp, working on the physical changes of such filaments in vacuum and in various gases, and later investigating emission of elections from hot filaments. Shortly before the outbreak of World War II Dr. Fonda began to concentrate on the study of phosphors and made major contributions to the design of the screen upon which radar signals are translated into visible light. His work on phosphors also found applications in fluorescent lamps and television picture tubes. He retired from GE at he end of 1949 after nearly 40 years service. Dr. Fonda and his associates developed the American version of the radar screen only two weeks after the National Defense Research Council assigned the problem to the GE facility in 1941. Surviving are his daughter, Mrs. Amadeo Qualich of Rochester, and a son, Thomas Fonda, of State College, Pa. Memorial contributions may be made to the Beechwood Retirement Home, 2211 N. Forest Road, Williamsville. Schenectady NY Gazette, Tuesday, December 18, 1973.