Surrounded by family, Joseph R. Dabbs “Joe”, 79, passed away on Sunday, May 4, 2014. Born in Nashville, TN, he spent his early adulthood in St. Petersburg, FL. U.S. Air Force retired and a retired N.A.S.A. Scientist. His decades of work were integral to N.A.S.A.’s Apollo, Saturn V., Shuttle programs and Neutral Buoyancy. A true Renaissance man, Joe preferred life in action. He was an avid fencer and fencing instructor, SCUBA Dive-Master, spear-fisherman, caver, cave-diving instructor, amateur competitive sailor, reckless snow skier, cyclist and all-around athlete.
Joe is survived by his daughters, Dianna Dabbs and Martha Herron (Michael) of Huntsville and Jodi Hunter (David) of Atlanta, Ga; nieces, Lynn Pointer (Ken) and Rebecca Sanders (Michael) of Nashville, TN; grandchildren, Heather Lowery (John), Patrick Dabbs and Peyton and Eliza Hunter; and godson, Conan (Jaina) Dickson.
Family visitation and memorial services will be held at St. Stephens Episcopal Church of Huntsville, Friday, May 9th at 2:00 and 3:00 pm respectively. A storytelling celebration of Joe’s life will immediately follow at the family residence.
In celebration of an epic lifetime of adventure, donations may be made in Joe’s honor to FlyQuest, The Michael J. Fox Foundation or Still Serving Veterans.
