 SAM KREIDELCOCOA BEACH Samuel Kreidel, 77, passed away Thursday, January 29, 2004 at his home in Cocoa Beach. Sam was born in Ellens burg, Washington in 1926. He joined the Army after high school in 1944. After the Army, he graduated from the Universi ty of Washington with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Sam had a life long love of aviation in both his work and personal life. Sam made signifi cant contributions to the US space programs. His 37-year career with Rockwell Space division was capped in his role as Director of Airframe Design for the shuttle program. He re tired in 1987, but was called back from retirement twice by NASA; first to help design an escape system for the shuttle after the Challenger disaster and secondly to help determine the cause of the Columbia tragedy. 
Sam earned his private pilots certificate at age 16. Sam built two experimental aircraft and flew his homebuilt airplane as recently as this past summer. His first airplane, which he built with his son Dick, won the Orville and Wilbur Wright Builders Award for craftsman ship. Sam also loved model aviation as well and built many scale radio controlled models. Sam is survived by his wife of 55 years, Bette Kreidel; four children, Dick Kreidel, Bob Kreidel and Janice Kreidel all of Los Angeles and John Kreidel of Missoula, Mont.; sister, Carmen Karl berg of Missoula, Mont.; three daughters-in-law, Val Kreidel and Kay Kreidel both of Los Angeles and Mary Kreidel of Missoula, Mont.;Brother-in- law, Glen Yates of Wheatland, Wyoming; and eleven grand children. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 3, 2004 at Church of Our Sav iour Catholic Church in Cocoa Beach, Fla. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Wuesthoff Brevard Hospice, 8060 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera, FL 32940. Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home in Cocoa Beach is in charge of arrange ments. You may sign Sams guest book at: www.beckman williamson.com. |
