John Bell Edmund Chase, 93, of Huntsville, Ala., passed away at Crestwood Hospital on April 3, 2019. John was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, to Arthur Morgan Chase and Grace Lupient Chase. The visitation will be Wednesday, April 10, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church sanctuary. The funeral service will immediately follow. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery (www.laughlinservice.com). Mr. Chase was a Pilot in the Army Air Corps, and a Captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He received his degree in Electrical Engineering from The Citadel in Charleston, SC. He had a wonderful and productive career working as an engineer for the Civil Aeronautics Administration, in communications for Tennessee Valley Authority, and held a number of positions at Redstone Arsenal from 1956 to 1980 including working for the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency, in the Astrionics Laboratory, and serving as the Technical Assistant to the Director in the Electronics and Control Laboratory. He was proud to serve on teams with Dr. Wernher von Braun and Dr. Walter Hausserman. Following his retirement from the Arsenal, he did private consulting work and was named the initial Director of the Enhanced 911 Center for Huntsville-Madison County. Mr. Chase also was extensively engaged in community service. He was a founding member of Trinity United Methodist Church, and served on a number of committees there. He was involved in the PTA and Band Parents Association. He also was a primary inspiration for and then served as the Chairman and Secretary of the Board of Directors for Carlton Cove, now Magnolia Trace. He is survived by his loving wife of twenty years, Carole Howard Chase; daughters, Dr. Carol Chase Thomas and Janene E. Chase; step-daughter, Heather Lindsey; sisters, Pearl Rasmussen and Fern Gentes; dear friends, Vivian Humphrey, Dr. Al Watson, and Susan Clay; as well as several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wives, Geraldine M. Chase and Marthella H. Chase; brothers, Eugene and Russell; sisters, Kayle, Julie, and Pauline; step-son, Jeffrey Howard; and best friend, Jurgen Ebeling-Belt. Mr. Chase was much beloved by all who knew him. He was always described as a gentleman, warm, friendly, kind, sweet, and loving. He blessed many with his life and strong faith. Through his cancer fight in 2008 and all of life’s tragedies, he reminded those around him to always have hope and to live life fully one day at a time. Memorial gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church, 120 Greene Street, Huntsville, AL 35801; Christian Women’s Job Corps, 600 Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801; or Alzheimer’s Association, 7800 Madison Blvd. #503, Huntsville, AL 35806.
Posted in: Huntsville Times
Posted on: 2019-04-09
Link to original obituary: http://obits.al.com/obituaries/huntsville/obituary.aspx?n=john-bell-edmund-chase&pid=192120686&fhid=5535