Herman Rudolph Oswell, 91, passed away Saturday, April 18. He was born in Bessemer, AL to William Rudolph Oswell and Ruby Margaret Saxon.
Following graduation from Hueytown High School, he attended Auburn University (known as the Alabama Polytechnic Institute at that time), where he graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering Degree with Honors.
He married Laura Frances Grimes in 1954, to whom he was married for 69 years. Following his graduation from API, they lived in St. Louis, MO and then moved to Huntsville in 1958 where they raised four children. They moved to Redstone Village Independent Living in 2015 and were well-loved by the community there.
He worked for McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis and then for Brown Engineering in Huntsville. In 1960 he began working for the Army Ballistic Missile Agency at Redstone Arsenal, which was later known as the U.S. Army Missile Command (MICOM). He worked for MICOM for 28 years in the concept formulation and development of field artillery rockets, anti-tank missiles, and air defense systems. His most notable work was done in the design and development of the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), for which he received multiple patents and awards. He was known as a technical leader, a brilliant man, a thorough analyst, a tireless worker, a superb communicator, a good friend, and a humble man who was quick to give credit to those serving under him. He retired from MICOM in 1988 as the Chief of the Advanced Systems Concepts Office of the Army Missile Laboratory. He worked for Nichols Research and CSC as a consultant to the Army for many years after retiring from MICOM.
A member of Whitesburg Baptist Church since 1966, he served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher and department director, and on numerous personnel and finance committees. He was a servant-leader willing to serve wherever he was needed.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Laura Grimes Oswell; his parents, sisters, Juanita McClinton and Jean Waits, and brother, Roderick Oswell. Survivors include daughter, Julie Chandler (Mack); sons, David Oswell (Melissa), Bill Oswell (Linda), and Jim Oswell (Julie); ten grandchildren and their spouses; 15 great- grandchildren; brother-in-law, John Grimes (Vickie); and several nieces and nephews.
His children thank the staffs at Clearview Cancer Institute, Crestwood Hospital, Fairview at Redstone Village, and Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care for the loving care provided to our dad in his final days.
Visitation will be held at Laughlin Service Funeral Home on Friday, May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. followed by a graveside memorial service at Maple Hill Cemetery on May 2 at 1 p.m. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in his honor to Whitesburg Baptist Church at https://onrealm.org/WhitesburgBaptist/-/form/give/now; Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care at https://www.huntsvillehospitalfoundation.org/get-involved/give-now; or Songs for Kids Foundation at https://www.songsforkids.org/donate/.
