James Wylie Rountree Jr., 87, of Huntsville passed away Friday, January 1, 2021. James was born in Selma, AL on December 26, 1933. He graduated from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University) with a degree in electrical engineering and then served two years in the US Air Force. James retired from NASA in 1990 and had a distinguished career, having worked on the Apollo Program, Skylab, and the Shuttle Program.
James was an accomplished handyman with an abundance of skills from automotive repair to cabinetmaking. He was a helper at heart and always willing to use his skills to help whoever he encountered needing assistance. He had a love for the outdoors and actively pursued numerous sports with his family to include hunting, fishing, and camping.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Hilda; his children, Ashlyn Crumbley (Tim) of Madison, AL and James W. Rountree III (Doris) of Monrovia, AL; four grandchildren; and his sister, Mary Cowling of Mobile, AL.
A graveside service and burial will be conducted by Laughlin Service Funeral Home, at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 5 at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Alabama Chapter – Huntsville Office, 7800 Madison Blvd #503, Huntsville, AL, 35806; (256) 880-1575 (https://www.alz.org/).
