David H. Newby, 93, of Guntersville, passed away Tuesday. Mr. Newby had been employed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and was chief of the Test and Evaluation Laboratory for the Army Rocket and Guided Missile Agency at Redstone Arsenal. He was appointed by the new National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to be the Liaison officer with the Army, was the associate Deputy Director for Administration of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. He was employed by United Space Booster Company as Manager of Procurement, and then as Executive Assistant to the Executive Vice President and General Manager of USBI. Mr. Newby was chairman of the Civic Center Advisory Board from 1969-1970, and was a member of the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission (Alabama Space and Rocket Center) from 1976 to 1989. Business organizations and activities for Mr. Newby included American Rocket Society, American Ordnance Association, American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Association for the Advancement of Science, National Society of Public Accountants, and Huntsville Chamber of Commerce.
His proudest accomplishments include: as Chief of Test and Evaluation Lab, he developed the facilities and organization of the testing of solid rockets at the Army’s Redstone Arsenal; he was the only Huntsville Member involved in the transfer of the Von Braun team from the Army and planned the start up of the Marshall Space Flight Center; served as Associate Deputy for Administration of the Marshall Space Flight Center during Dr. Von Braun’s tenure; was chairman of the Civic Center Advisory Board; and was the principal NASA contact for the planning, design and construction of the Alabama Space and Rocket Center.
After his retirement, Mr. Newby enjoyed fishing, playing golf and visiting the dog tracks in Florida. He also enjoyed anything he could do with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mr. Newby was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Burdick Newby and Lucile Williams Newby; brother, Cecil Newby; sister, Patricia Ann DeSpain; and wife, Marjorie.
Survivors include children, Donna Carol Newby Newman, of Guntersville, and David H. Newby III (Ladye Whitley) of Huntsville; grandchildren, Melinda Smith (Shane) of Marietta, GA, Tammy Gidley (Steve) of Ohatchee, Matthew Newby (Tiffany) of Huntsville, and Jonathan Newby (Jennifer) of Owens Cross Roads; and great-grandchildren, Ryan Smith, Mariah Gidley, Caroline Newby and Luke Newby.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Maple Hill Cemetery with Tim Rice and Neal Smith officiating.
Memorials may be made to your favorite charity.
Information provided by Laughlin Funeral Home