Andrew Robert Karabinos was born July 6, 1929, in Akron, Ohio, to Andrew Bela Karabinos and Mary Ann Lesho. He passed away on September 4th 2026 in Huntsville, Alabama. He was the youngest of three children and the brother of Joseph Vincent Karabinos and Anna Rita Fonck. His parents and siblings all preceded him in death.
Andrew is survived by eight of his nine children (including 2 stepchildren), 17 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. His son, Mark Allyn Karabinos, and stepson Randy Palmer, preceded him in death, as did his wives Betty Ruth Wathen, Mary Elizabeth Karabinos, and Rosa Marie Beall.
He is survived by Andrew S. Karabinos of Fort Smith, Arkansas; David and Faye Karabinos of Huntsville; Chris and Karen Karabinos of Brookhaven, Georgia; Therese Mulder of Huntsville; Tanya Craven of Cullman; Leslie Karabinos of Canton, Georgia; Cindy and Mark Hunt of Huntsville; and Nita Palmer of Huntsville.
Andrew attended St. Procopius College and Ohio State University, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Akron.
After completing basic training with the U.S. Army at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, he was transferred in July 1951 to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, where he would live, work, and raise his family for the rest of his life. As a chemical engineer, he was assigned to the 9330 Technical Service Unit (TSU) to work in NASA’s Fuel and Combustion Laboratory, reporting to Dr. Tschinkel, who in turn reported to Dr. Wernher von Braun — the two leading German scientists who had previously helped develop Germany’s V2 program before going on to launch and run NASA for the United States.
His professional experience later led him into the aerospace industry, with companies including Bendix and Morton Thiokol. Over the course of his career, Andrew served as a project manager on the Redstone, Pershing, Mercury, Gemini, Saturn, and Space Shuttle programs.
His rocketry work is included in the book The Secret G.I. Scientists of Redstone Arsenal and was also a published author of investing books and articles. His passions included investing, scuba diving, golf, sailing, world history and the U.S. space program.
Andrew was a long-standing member of Good Sheperd Catholic Church in Huntsville.
Visitation and funeral services will be held beginning 10:00 am September 19th at Valhalla Funeral Home & Memory Gardens in Huntsville, Alabama with a reception afterwards at the McMullen Cove Clubhouse – 38 McMullen Lane Gurley Alabama.
