Walter Emmett Fuqua, Jr., 85, died Monday, May 11, 2015 at Crestwood Hospital following a brief illness.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Annie Mae (Walker) Fuqua; son, Joe Fuqua and wife Glynis; daughter Debra Fuqua Randolph and husband Buddy; and grandchildren, Tyler Fuqua and wife, Allison; Hannah Fuqua Harrison and husband, Jon; Mary Claire Fuqua; and Joe Randolph.
The only child of Walter Emmett Fuqua, Sr. and Hattie Belle Lovelady Fuqua, he was born in Birmingham, Alabama on December 16, 1928 and later moved to Anniston, Alabama. He moved to Huntsville with his wife and children in 1962. After graduating from Anniston High School, Mr. Fuqua attended Cohn Electrical School in Chicago, Illinois. In 1948 he joined the Navy and served as a fighter plane gunner. He was in active service for two years, followed by six years in the Naval Reserves. While in the reserves he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Jacksonville State University. In 1962, Mr. Fuqua accepted a position with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a Quality Engineer. He retired from NASA after 35 years, subsequently taking positions with other aerospace firms before fully retiring in 1995.
Mr. Fuqua was active in his church and served as treasurer, deacon, Sunday school teacher, and nursery coordinator through the years. He continued to have interest in his children’s and grandchildren’s lives and enjoyed each one’s major and minor successes.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 12 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel with Dr. Jimmy Jackson officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
He had great interest in and supported “Los Lomas,” a boy’s home in the Amazon jungle of Peru that was founded by his grandson’s organization, Not Forgotten. Memorials may be sent to Not Forgotten, 1111 Fern Street, Birmingham, AL 35209 or through their website: https://www.notforgotten.org.
