Hermon Hight, age 86, of Madison, AL, passed away on Friday, January 14, 2022. He was the husband of Annie Pearl Hight and they shared their lives together for 63 years. He was born and raised in Jackson, TN, and lived most of his life in Huntsville and Madison, AL with his family. He was a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Madison, AL.
Hermon is survived and will be dearly missed by his wife; three daughters: Anita Robeson and husband David of Ardmore, AL; Vicky Sketers and husband Michael of Parker, CO; and Felicia Walker and husband Matthew of Marietta, GA; six grandchildren: Alexander Sketers and wife Cassidy; Nicole Sketers; Lee Robeson and wife Jenny; Evan Maldonado; Matthew Walker, Jr.; and Bethany Walker; and one great-grandson Gavin Sketers. Hermon is preceded in death by his father Hill Hight, Sr.; mother Ruth Hight; son Hill Lee Hight; his brothers Allen Hight Jr. and Ray Hight; and sister-in-law Helen Hight, all of Jackson, TN.
Hermon retired from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) after 39 years. He worked on Saturn/ Apollo as a control systems engineer in the Astrionics Laboratory; as the Lead Project Engineer for the flight software on the Saturn Instrument Unit Project; and as an Avionics and Software Project Office engineer for the Shuttle/Orbiter definition and selection phases. Hermon also worked on the High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO) project as the flight software Lead Engineer; as the flight software engineering lead for multiple Spacelab flights; and as the Mission Chief Engineer on several Spacelab Missions. Hermon was proud of the fact that all of these NASA missions succeeded without failure. Hermon received several NASA awards including an honored, personal letter from Dr. Werner von Braun for Hermon’s contribution to the Saturn/Apollo 8 initial flight success around the moon in 1968; an honored Snoopy Award from the Astronauts for his contributions to the Spacelab program; several Director’s Commendations, and many other awards. Hermon worked in private industry prior to his NASA career. After receiving his Officer’s Commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at Mississippi State University (MSU), Hermon served in the U.S. Army during the Berlin Crisis in the early 1960s while stationed in Arlington, VA. At MSU, Hermon taught mathematics and electrical engineering while obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree with Special Honors (1957) and a Master of Science Degree (1959) in Electrical Engineering. In addition, he served as President of his social fraternity chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and received an award as Outstanding Freshman.
He was a Life Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He was a past member and officer of the Huntsville Pacesetters Lions Club and in various Methodist churches. Above all, Hermon was a wonderful example of a loving and dedicated husband and father. With his genuine warmth and quick wit, he had a positive impact on those who were lucky enough to know and love him through the years.
The funeral services will be on Thursday, January 20, at 1:00 PM at the Valhalla Funeral Home on Winchester Drive in Huntsville, AL, with Dr. Alan Weatherly officiating. Visitation will precede the funeral at noon. If family and friends are unable to attend, the service will be streamed live using a link at the Valhalla Funeral Home website on Hermon’s obituary page. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valhallafunerals.com for the Hight family.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.5