Jim D. Raby, PE, died peacefully June 16, 2017 at approximately 6:30 AM at home. Jim was 82 years old. Jim was born on August 10, 1934 in the town of Jeff, Alabama. He graduated from Monrovia High School in 1952 and briefly attended Andrew Jackson Business School in Nashville, Tennessee.
In 1954, Jim joined the U.S. Navy and served his country honorably as a Seabee and as a Communications Technician.
Jim married the love of his life, Mary Ellen (Mitchell) March 13, 1959. Jim and Ellen recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. Jim and Ellen celebrated the birth of their son, David, in December 1959. David has spent many years at Jim’s side and is diligently carrying on the mission his Dad sat before him.
Following his discharge from the service, Jim began work in Huntsville, Alabama for the Army Ballistics Missile Agency (ABMA) as an electronic technician. There he had the distinction of working with the former German Rocket Team, including Dr. Werner Von Braun, during the infancy of the U.S. Space Program. In 1960, ABMA was transformed into the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Jim joined the new agency as a Charter Member. He worked on almost every phase of the Pegasus, Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab programs.
Jim left NASA in 1975 to work for the U.S. Navy at China Lake, California as Head of Soldering Technology Branch. While at China Lake, Jim developed the Soldering Standardization Program which standardized requirements DoD-wide and the Solder Training and Certification Program. He also started the Electronic Manufacturing and Production Facility (EMPF).
In 1984, Jim left the Navy to start Soldering Technology International, Inc (more recently known as STI Electronics or STI). STI remained a family business until Jim’s recent retirement. Jim’s life focus was to support the electronics manufacturing industry and to do all he could to make sure the country he so loved, was defended.
Of all Jim’s achievements, he is most proud of his family-wife Ellen, son David, daughter-in-law Sheila, beloved granddaughter, Ashley, and sister Glenda Beard (James), and he is and for ever more will be grateful for his relationship with Jesus.
Although Jim’s passing will leave a huge void in each of our lives, his legacy will live on through his son, David and all those that he poured so much love and attention in to. His love for family, friends, colleagues and country will remain in our hearts and memories for years to come. The family will be receive friends Monday, June 19th from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Berryhill Funeral Home. Chapel service will be Tuesday, June 20th at 2:00pm with Reverend Steve Grissom officiating. Burial will follow at Huntsville Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of the following: 1. Jim D. Raby/STI Scholarship Fund. Checks should be made payable to Calhoun Foundation and mailed to Calhoun Foundation, Calhoun Community College, P. O. Box 2216, Decatur, AL 35609-2216. Please include a cover letter with the check or donation stating the check is for the Jim D. Raby/STI Scholarship Fund. 2. The Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 2091, Madison, AL 35758 in memory of Jim D. Raby. 3. St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, P. O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101. 4. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P. O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014. Donations can also be made online in memory of Jim at the following link: https://www.michaeljfox.org/get-involved/donation2.php.
