Dr. Julian S. Kobler of Huntsville died Saturday. He was born in New York City, New York. He is survived by his beloved wife, Dr. Virginia P. Kobler; sons, George P. Kobler (Criss) and Jonathan P. Kobler (Lori); granddaughters, Arianne Kobler, Mallory Kobler, Magnolia Kobler, and Samantha Kobler; grandson, Drake Kobler, all of Huntsville; nephew, Scott Kobler (Susan) of New Jersey; nieces, Ellen Sacks (Hank), and Davida Kobler both of New York, Suzanne Loving (Jeff), and Michelle Pineda (Luis) both of Raleigh, North Carolina; and brother-in-law, William Ponds (Nancy) of Raleigh, North Carolina.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Ruth Shagen Kobler; his parents, Max Edward and Lillian Goldstein Kobler; and brother, Edward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Though Dr. Kobler was born in New York City, New York he spent his youth in Philadelphia, PA. He was a registered professional engineer in metallurgical engineering. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers.
Dr. Kobler’s professional career began during World War II as a metallurgist in industry and later in the Navy Department. He arrived in Huntsville in late 1959 and joined the Army Missile Command’s Research, Development and Engineering Laboratory. He progressed through the command’s managerial structure to Project Director, Technology Director and subsequently, as Director of the Missile Laboratories. In that capacity he was responsible for the research and development of weapon systems such as Sam-D, Nike-X and Redeye. Through his ability to sell the Army Missile Command’s programs to the Department of Defense billions of dollars came to Huntsville during the 1960s and 1970s.
Dr. Kobler was a charter appointee of the Senior Executive Service and was the recipient of the Department of the Army’s highest decorations.
Upon retirement Dr. Kobler served as a consultant to industry and as an adjunct professor of Engineering Management. He was also an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a former President of the Tennessee Chapter of the Association of the U. S. Army (1977-1978) and member of the former Huntsville-Madison County Manpower Area Planning Consortium under the auspices of then Mayor Joe Davis and Chairman of the County Commission James Record during the 1970s.
Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 31 in Ridley Hall at the Church of the Nativity. A memorial service at will follow at 11 in the church with the Reverend Rusty McCown officiating.
