Obituary of Alan Adrian Fabry

Alan Adrian Fabry passed away peacefully at Watauga Medical Center surrounded by his loving family on August 19, 2016 as a result of an aggressive malignancy. He was born on November 2, 1932 in Akron Ohio to Geneva and Edmund Fabry. He moved to Southern California in search of work and sunshine in 1957. There he found the love of his life Helen Sarff (his brown eyed girl). Helen and Alan met on a beach (mutual owners of MG convertibles and lovers of sand and sun) and married three years later on February 11, 1961. They were blessed with two daughters Cecilia and Carol. Alan graduated with a degree in Chemistry from Kent State University in Ohio in 1954. He supported himself through college by working at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Alan began his professional career as a Rubber Chemist at Goodyear. When he moved to California he began his long career in the Aerospace Industry. Initially working for Arrowhead Products, he then found employment with North American Aviation which became Rockwell International. While working full time at North American, he earned an MBA in Industrial Management from Long Beach State. He had the honor to work on some notable aerospace projects such as the Minute Man Missile, Saturn Two Booster, and Apollo Spacecraft (The mission to the moon). He became an expert in advance composite materials. In the decline of the Aerospace industry, he and his family relocated to Ohio where he worked for Babcock and Wilcox that made the first advance composite golf clubs for Wilson. He fell in love with the state of North Carolina when his career took him to Raleigh to work for a division of Exxon in 1979. In 1981 he returned to Rockwell International in Tulsa Oklahoma to work on the B 1 B Bomber. Alan and Helen lived in Tulsa for eight years before returning to the sun and sand of California where he had the honor to work on the Space Shuttle for Rockwell. Upon retirement in 1995, he and Helen returned to their beloved North Carolina where both Cecilia and Carol were living. Alan and Helen built a lovely home at Uwharrie Point at the Old North State Club where he enjoyed golfing, boating and fishing on Baden Lake. They made many great friends. Alan and Helen enjoyed many wonderful travel experiences. In 2000 they purchased a small home in Blowing Rock as second home. In 2006 they permanently relocated to Blowing Rock to escape the heat of the piedmont. While living in Blowing Rock, Alan spent many hours on the golf course and landscaping his yard. He truly enjoyed his retirement years and cherished his mountain home. Alan was a kind, loving, sensitive and generous man who touched the lives of many. He will be missed by many family and friends throughout the country. He is survived by his wife of 55 years Helen, his daughter Cecilia Grasinger (John) of Blowing Rock, daughter Carol Hall (Jerry) of Charlotte, five treasured grandchildren, Chris (Charlene) and Connor Grasinger, Sara, Rachel and Jacob Hall. He is also survived by four siblings, Edmund Jr., Donna Raschick, David and Jon. Alan is preceded in death by both parents, siblings Margaret, Gary, Pat, Martha and Pricilla. A funeral to celebrate Alans life will be held Sunday August 28, 2016, 2:30 pm at St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal church, 140 Chestnut Dr., Blowing Rock, NC 28605. A reception in the parish hall to follow. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Watauga County Cancer Resource Alliance (Seby Jones Cancer Center) www.foundation.apprhs.org, 828-262-4391 or The Blue Ridge Conservancy http://blueridgeconservancy.org. Online condolences may be shared at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory in Boone is serving the Fabry family.