Axel Walter Lubkowitz, 65, of Signal Mountain, died Wednesday, May 2, 2007.
He was born in Caracas, Venezuela and came to the United States to study engineering at the University of Louisville, where he held a BS in engineering. He received a masters in aeronautical engineering from Georgia Tech University. He worked for the NASA space rocket program before moving to Signal Mountain. He was retired from ABB Combustion Engineering.
During his retirement, he taught classes on a part-time basis at Chattanooga State and UTC. Axel was an avid tennis player and a member of the Manker Patten Tennis Club. He enjoyed all sports, especially soccer, and helped start the first soccer league on Signal Mountain and coached for 10 years. He had been a member of Toastmasters International. Axel was known for his generous heart and warm sense of humor.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Josef and Gertrude Lubkowitz.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Maria Lubkowitz of Signal Mountain; son and daughters, Mark (Ginger) Lubkowitz of Burlington, Vt., Daphne (Jeff) Kirksey of Signal Mountain and Erika (Brian) Bailey of Raleigh, N.C.; his brother, Joaquin (Adela) Lubkowitz of Pensacola, Fl.; his sister, Christa (Raul) Valera of Caracas, Venezuela; his sister-in-law Bea Caldwell of Signal Mountain; his brother-in-law Pete (Carol) Caldwell of Ringgold, Ga.; six grandchildren, seven nieces and nephews and several cousins in Germany.
A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Augustine Church with Father Patrick Brownell and Father Pete Iorio officiating. Interment will take place at the columbarium after the mass, followed by a reception in the Parish Life Center.
The family will receive friends at the church at 10 a.m. that morning.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Augustine Catholic Church, P.O. Box 10, Signal Mountain, Tennessee 37377, Hospice of Chattanooga, P.O. Box 19269, Chattanooga, TN 37416 or to The American Cancer Society 850 Fort Wood Street Chattanooga, TN 37403.
Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 404 South Moore Road East Ridge, TN 37412.
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