Roy Lowe Fanning, Sr., 93, of Huntsville passed away Sunday, March 20, 2016 surrounded by his children. Mr. Fanning was a native and lifelong resident of Madison County. He was born in New Market, AL and retired from NASA. Mr. Fanning was a member of “The Greatest Generation” who believed in hard work. He was a family man intent on providing for his family. He worked for several businesses in Huntsville before he started working as a civilian for the Army before World War II. After Pearl Harbor was bombed he went to Hawaii with the Corp of Engineers to assist in the cleanup project at Pearl Harbor. Later he returned home and joined the Navy to serve in WW II. After the war, he returned home and worked as a civilian for Army until the formation of NASA. He worked for NASA until his retirement.
After his retirement Mr. Fanning and his wife Ruby traveled extensively, including many trips to Hawaii and Spain. Roy was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite and Order of Eastern Star. He was very active in Whitesburg Baptist Church and enjoyed visiting and delivering food to the homebound until he stopped driving at the age of 91.
He was preceded in death by his dear darling wife of 68 1/2 years, Ruby Prosser Fanning, two sons, Larry P. Fanning and James W. Fanning. He was also preceded in death by his parents Jonah Hassel Fanning and Dewey Lee Hill and his sister Mary E. Mullins. He is survived by his son, Roy L. Fanning Jr. of Bloomfield Hills, MI; two daughters, Sandra F. Drake of Huntsville and Judith K. Grisham of Harvest; three grandsons, Dr. Donald M. Botta Jr., Samuel A. Botta, and Lawrence E. Doherty; three granddaughters, Susan Martin, Debbie Freeman and Patrice
Sandridge; ten great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday, March 23, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Whitesburg Baptist Church South Campus, 7300 Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville, AL 35802. The funeral will follow at 1:00 p.m. with the Rev. Jimmy Jackson and the Rev. Emerson Lyle officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Family Care or the American Cancer Society.
