Dirk Ourston

Austin, Texas- Dirk Ourston, 74, died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, following a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia. A celebration of his life is planned for Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the Newport Beach Country Club for his close family and friends. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA to the late Karl and Beulah Ourston, Dirk spent the early part of his life in Orange County, California and his later life in Austin, Texas. An avid scholar, he held numerous degrees from several prestigious institutions including a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Cal State Los Angeles(1964), a Masters Degree from the University of California, Los Angeles in Astrodynamics, and a Doctorate in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Texas(1991). A pioneer in the field of Artificial Intelligence, he spoke worldwide on his research as well as received a US Patent as recently as 2011 for his work on rapidly propagating threat detection. His hobbies included playing the guitar, singing, reading, and restoring classic cars. Dirk will be remembered for his witty humor, singing, entertaining limericks, but mostly for his loving and generous spirit. He demonstrated kindness and generosity throughout his life to all those he held dear and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Dirk leaves behind his children, Denise Morrison and spouse Robert, Dana Wells and spouse Jay, Julie Johnson and spouse Butch, Eric and Emma Ourston; his grandchildren, Kyle, Andrew, Daniel, and William Morrison, Joshua and Jessica Penman, Jaycie Wells, Ryen and Casey Funk, Crystal and Seth Johnson; his great-grandson Rhys Morrison; his brother, Leif Ourston; and numerous others he called family. His family would like to thank several people who provided loving care in his time of need: Susan Ourston, Vicki and Red Agans, and Jacquie Bourdens. Memorial contributions can be made in his name to the Alzheimers Foundation of America(www.alzfdn.org).