Alan Lincoln Compton

Alan Lincoln Compton was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Gladys Johnson Compton and Arthur Lincoln Compton. He graduated from Robbinsdale High School and graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota's School of Architectural Engineering, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. He attended post graduate studies at the University of Michigan, Georgia Tech and the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Compton came to Huntsville in 1955 as an Ordinance Officer with the U.S. Army where he attended the Guided Missile Officer Training School and received numerous awards and commendations. Upon graduation Mr. Compton was employed by the U.S. Army for thirty years on several missile systems and became a founding father and a senior manager of the PATRIOT Missile System. Following his government retirement, he worked for CAS, Inc. and retired in 1996. He found all aspects of his association very gratifying. During his career he received the Army Missile Command Senior Executive Award and the prestigious Meritorious Civilian Service Medal. Alan Compton was a loving husband and father, and always took an active role in his church, singing in the choirs and serving in many leadership capacities there as well as throughout the Huntsville community. Mr. Compton always enjoyed his affiliation and working with others toward a common goal and was widely loved and respected. Activities he enjoyed were sports, genealogy research, the great outdoors, sailing, fishing, gardening and hiking. He and his wife Mary have traveled extensively to all of the lower 48 plus Alaska, Canada, Germany, England, France, Italy, Mexico, Turkey, Austria and Switzerland. Organization involvement included Trinity United Methodist Church, the Sanctuary Choir and Discovery Class, Senior Recreational Softball League, Senior League Volleyball, LearningQUEST, Friendship Force, Int., and past president of Community Concert Association. Mr. Compton is survived by his loving bride of 59 years, Mary J. Compton; son, Dr. Gregrey Compton of Greenville, South Carolina; daughter, Elizabeth "Lisa" Compton Sallo and her husband, David Sallo; and son, Jeffrey, his wife, Pam Smith Compton; and three grandchildren, Lincoln, Elizabeth "Libby" and Matthew Compton, all of Huntsville, Alabama. A Celebration of Life service will be at Trinity United Methodist Church on Airport Road at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29 with Dr. Rick Owen and the Rev. Marty Lucky officiating. A reception will follow in Wesley Hall. (www.laughlinservice.com) In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, The Amedisys Foundation, Robbinsdale, MN Historical Society, Beta Eta Chapter Delta Tau Delta at University of Minnesota or your favorite charity.