Harry Edward Bailey

1924 - 2017

Harry Edward Bailey

February 13, 1924 - July 17, 2017

Harry E. Bailey died peacefully on Monday, July 17, in Seattle, WA surrounded by his family. He was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Jennie Versluis Bailey and Harry Edward Bailey.

Harry was a student in the Niles public schools, graduated at age 16, and attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In 1942, at age 18, Harry joined the Army Air Corps serving as a pilot and a 1st Lieutenant during WWII.

When he returned to the University of Michigan in 1946, Harry completed Bachelor of Science degrees in Aeronautical Engineering and in Mathematics. He also met his wife-to-be, Katharine Anne Lewis of Ann Arbor. They were married on August 8, 1947. They lived briefly in Seattle where Harry worked for Boeing before returning to complete a Master of Science degree and a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Michigan. Their first two children, Christine and Alice, were born in Ann Arbor; their third, Ted, was born in Boulder, Colorado, where Harry took a job as Professor of Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Colorado.

In 1958 Harry and his family moved to Palo Alto, California. For the next 32 years, Harry worked for NASA at Ames Research Center in Mountain View. He made a significant contribution to the design of NASA's space shuttle before retiring in 1990. Harry's retirement allowed him to devote more time to his passion for playing Master's bridge.

Harry is survived by his wife, Katharine; daughters, Chris (Finley) Young and Alice (Gilles) Cheylan; son, Ted (Emese Patakfalvi) Bailey; as well as 7 grandchildren, Josh (Ericka), Daniel (Maia), and Rebecca Young; Vincent (Mabel), Laurent, and Isabelle Cheylan; and Michael Bailey.

Private services will be at

Tahoma National Cemetery

Hoffner Fisher & Harvey

Guestbook at harveyfuneral.com