Huey Dean Carden

Huey Dean Carden, Christian, loving husband, father, “Papa”, deacon, builder of churches and 40+ year veteran of NASA left us peacefully, without pain or suffering on November 8th, 2020 at 11:07AM surrounded by his family.

He is survived by: his wife of 56 years, Sue (Nave); his daughter, Deana; son, Jeffrey; daughter-in-law, Nadya; granddaughters, Anna and Sofiya; sister, Irene Fleenor; Romchik, his loving cat; along with countless others whom he touched in his own quiet way. He is preceded in death by: his father, Kinch Lo; mother, Juanita; brothers, Willard, Elmer, Warren “G”, Ira, Verlin; and sister, Stella Mae.

He was born of humble beginnings in Carter County, TN on July 24th 1937. The youngest of the 6 sons and 2 daughters to Kinch Lo and Juanita Carden. Huey was extremely talented artistically as the many pictures hanging in his house will attest but felt a calling to science and higher education. With hard work, persistence, a little luck and help was able to attend college at Tennessee Tech and graduate with a degree in Physics. He immediately went to work for NASA as a research engineer until his reluctant retirement. Awarded numerous times for his undying desire to make flight safe for all, he was given the highest honor with the international Admiral Luis de Florez Flight Safety Award in 1987. He loved his job crashing aircraft and destroying dummies to make flying safer for all!

Huey was a devoted, loving, kind and sweet family man who provided for his family and friends alike. Anyone who knew him will attest that he was a quiet giant who loved God, his church, his country and his fellow man. He expressed this through his actions in the home, work and church in the truest sense of a Christian. We have no doubt he is in a better place now and we all should rejoice knowing this.

In lieu of flowers or gifts please consider giving to a charity, volunteering to someone in need, showing a loved one you cherish them, mending a relationship and praying.