Francis J. Koubek

1928 - 2021

Francis (Frank) J. Koubek of Cincinnati, OH, lost his battle with Covid on September 28, 2021. He was 92.

Mr. Koubek was born and raised in Baltimore, MD, graduating from the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1946. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Maryland in 1951. Mr. Koubek worked as an engineer for a Baltimore-based consulting chemical engineering company working on industrial water conditioning and waste disposal problems and the E. I. Dupont Co. in the manufacture of titanium dioxide pigments. Mr. Koubek also served 15 years in the 29th Infantry Division (Maryland National Guard) and the U.S. Army Reserves achieving the rank of Chief Warrant Officer - Combat Engineers.

From 1956 until retirement in 1985, Mr. Koubek worked at the Naval Surface Weapons (formerly Naval Ordnance Laboratory) in Silver Spring, MD. Mr. Koubek was a recognized technical expert and pioneer in the research and development of heat resistant materials. His achievements impacted on many of the Navy's advanced missile and aircraft development programs. He was the author of numerous technical papers and reports; he held four patents and received a number of special awards from the Navy for his achievements in materials science. Mr. Koubek also headed the Non-Metallic Materials Branch during the final 10 years of his career at the Center.

After retirement, Mr. Koubek and his wife Betty L. Koubek moved to Cincinnati. Mr. Koubek enjoyed working with wood and was a member of the American Association of Wood Turners and the National Wood Carvers Association.

Mr. Koubek was predeceased by his wife Betty, two sons Gregory and Mark, daughter Gina Koubek, and two son-in-laws Timothy Appler and Jamey Ferguson. He is survived by four daughters from a previous marriage: Suzanne Probst (Phillip) of Columbia, MD; Kathleen Koubek of Portland, OR; Jacqueline Lanier of Annapolis, MD; and Michele Appler of Pasadena, MD. In addition, he is survived by grandsons: Mark Bacher, Jacob Appler, David Appler and Samuel Appler. He is also survived by a brother, Joseph F. Koubek and a sister, Patricia Sturla (Lawrence) of Baltimore, MD, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews.

Burial in Cincinnati was private.