Edward John Huber Jr.

Edward John Huber,Jr. passed away on Monday, December 2, 2019. He was 90. Ed is much engrained in the history of Elkridge as he was a very active member of the community. Ed was the co-chairperson of the Elkridge Master Plan Citizen’s Review Committee during the 1970’s and served several terms as Chairperson of the Elkridge Community Association. He was instrumental in getting the sound barrier walls along Interstate 95 in Elkridge. He played major roles in securing the first library in Elkridge, its first independent post office and a zip code specifically for Elkridge in the 1990s.

He was the co-founder/publisher/manager of the Elkridge Viaduct newspaper, was the initial Chairperson of the Citizens Committee for the Enhancement of Communities Surrounding Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport, and remained a member of that committee until 2017.

Ed was a member and chairperson of the Howard County Board of Library Trustees from 1987-1997. He was honored with the Community Focus Award by the Howard County Executive and Howard County Council in 1998 for his tireless work.

As a devout Catholic, he was an active member of St. Augustine’s Church in Elkridge. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and an usher at Masses. In his years as a father of a student at St. Augustine’s School, he often volunteered- repairing what needed repair, painting, setting up for activities, etc.

Born in Baltimore in 1929, he attended Baltimore Polytechnic High School, and graduated with honors from the A course. He then worked at the American Chemical Company as a lab assistant and attended Johns Hopkins University majoring in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Three years later, he went into the Army, serving as Chief of Wire Team 6 with the 3rd Infantry Division in North Korea. In 1953 he was transferred to the Reserves as a Staff Sargent.

After his honorable discharge in 1953, he returned to work at the American Chemical Company and to his studies at Johns Hopkins University. While attending Hopkins, he happened to take a class taught by Wernher von Braun, the aerospace engineer and space architect who pioneered rocket and space technology in the United States. Von Braun saw something special in Edward, and, introduced him to high ranking government officials. Ed was offered a position in the Kennedy Administration. Ed, however, declined the offer, preferring to work in private industry.

He graduated from Hopkins with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1961 and one in Chemistry in 1963. He then worked in the chemical division of Continental Oil, for DuPont in their agricultural division, and as Chief Chemist for the Williams Company. During his career, he was designated as an associate Referee in the Association of Official Analytical Chemist, Chairman of the Product Quality and Technology Committee for the Fertilizer Institute, member of the Industry Round Table, Member of the Good Manufacturing Practices Committee, Uniform Bills and other committees for the American Association of Plant Food Control Officials.

After retiring from the Williams Company in 1986, he began an independent consulting business. Part of his consulting work required him to chair the Magruder Committee, which analyzed samples for approximately 300 laboratories around the world.

Ed was fortunate enough to have two great loves in his life. He married Alice May McCormick in 1955 and remained happily married until her passing in 2003. They had two children, Theresa and Eddie. In 2004, he and Theresa suffered a great loss with the death of Eddie at 36 years of age. Losing his wife and son so close together took its took on Ed and he lost interest in so many of the activities he had so enjoyed. Then, in 2007, while walking on a treadmill in cardiac rehab at St. Agnes Hospital, he met Jackie Kuhn, who was also recently widowed. Their love grew as their hearts strengthened and they married on June 7, 2008. They enjoyed many joyous times and many happy years together.

Ed is survived by his wife, Jackie, her daughter Darla and her husband, Bruce, his daughter, Theresa, her husband, Steven, their sons, Steven and Daniel and his most precious granddog, Jake.

Viewings will be held at Gary Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park, Inc. 7250 Washington Blvd in Elkridge on Thursday, December 12 from 3-5 and 7-9. A funeral Mass will be offered on Friday, December 13 at 11 am at St. Augustine Church. Interment to follow at Baltimore National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ed's name to St. Augustine Church or the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department.