Dr. Kenneth “Ken” William Suits, 83, of Huntsville, Alabama, died on May 25th, 2018, with family at his side. Ken is survived by his wife of nearly 58 years, Ellie (Parrill) Suits of Huntsville; sisters, Gloria Smoot of Choctaw, Oklahoma, and Daina Suits of Cleveland, Tennessee; daughter, Rebecca Suits of Arab; son, Michael Suits of Owens Cross Roads; grandchildren, Alicia (Suits) McDaniel of Owens Cross Roads and Nathan Suits of Oakland, CA; great-grandson, Sutton Ross McDaniel of Owens Cross Roads; and aunt, Louise Suits of Cleveland, TN. Dr. Suits was preceded in death by his parents, Dennis and Gertrude Suits; sister, Joan Henderson, all of Cleveland, Tennessee; and son, Daniel William Suits of Huntsville.
Ken was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and beloved son.
He dedicated his professional life to mechanical engineering, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1958, a master’s degree in 1968 and a doctoral degree in 1975, all from the Tennessee Polytechnic Institute, later known as Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee. Dr. Suits began his career in 1958 working at Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, Georgia, later at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, and then for 40 years at the U. S. Army Missile Command beginning in 1961. He designed and developed the working model of the first command and control station for the USAF on a KC-135, the first missile while working with the Army, called the ADCAT (Army Directional Controlled Anti Tank). He also invented the first plastic missile (Falcon motor, ADCAT radome and a plastic casing) and worked on designs for surface to air missiles ranging from the SAM-D to the Hawk and eventually to the Patriot Missile.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30th, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home in Huntsville, Alabama. There will be a private family graveside service.
