Kenneth Hubble (Ken), resident at The Mayflower Retirement Center, Winter Park, Florida, died on 25 May 2024. Ken was born on 30 November 1934 in Worthing, Sussex, England to an English father (Edward) and a Welsh mother (Rachel). Ken was father to Christopher (Julie) Hubble of Lebanon, NH, Caroline Hubble of Franklin, NC; grandparent to Jackson and Margaret Hubble; former husband of Rosemary Hubble (deceased); and brother to Phyllis Pritchard, United Kingdom. From an early age and through the years of World War II and high school, Ken was constantly intrigued by all things mechanical-–cars, planes, trains, tanks. During his younger years at home, he frequently mingled with the chauffeurs and mechanics at his father's limousine and maintenance business and drove cars on the property before reaching the legal age to do so. Always a good, but not brilliant, student, academic success allowed acceptance at King's College, London University for studies in mechanical engineering (1952-1955) where he obtained a bachelor of science (BSc) (Eng). During his youth, Ken enjoyed soccer and table tennis in winter months and tennis and cricket in the summer. Tennis was to become a lifelong activity which he enjoyed playing well into his late 70’s.
Ken started his professional career in the defense industry, joining the English Guided Weapons Division of the English Electric/Marconi/Napier Group as a Graduate Apprentice with extensive courses at Marconi College in Systems, Radar, Electronics and Servos. These early experiences drove his interest in becoming an Aerospace Engineer. The late 1950s saw many engineers leaving the UK for exciting opportunities in the USA aerospace industry and in 1961 Ken with his new wife Rosemary (Sewell) of six months joined the flow. Ken's first job in the USA lasted seven years at Honeywell Aerospace in Minneapolis, Minnesota (major project Apollo) during which time son Chris and daughter Caroline were born. His aerospace career continued with 10 years at Sperry Flight Systems in Phoenix, Arizona (major project Hubble telescope) followed by interesting Management and International experience at Martin Marietta Orlando Aerospace until retirement in 1995.
Ken then dabbled for a couple of years with International consulting and subsequently established a company to produce Automatic Trailer Couplings (LLC). Although Engineering dominated his working life, this was not to the exclusion of competition on the tennis court or practical hobbies like restoration of British Classic Cars (1939 SS100 Jaguar now in a Scottish museum, 1954 XK120 Jaguar still in the family) and restoration of antique caned chairs. Ken also enjoyed memberships in many social organizations, the most prominent being the English-Speaking Union which was highlighted by a two-year term as President, and positions as Region Chair and National Board Member. Both caning chairs and participating in ESU events continued after the move to the Mayflower.
Ken's body is being donated to the University of Florida for medical research after which it will be cremated. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Central Florida Branch of the English Speaking Union (https://legacy.esuus.org/centralflorida/).”
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