Harold was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on Thanksgiving Day November 25, 1920 to Henry and Susan Cornelius Dubach.
He was an undergraduate of St Joseph Junior College , Baker University (Kansas) ,with further studies at Univ of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, New York Univ, American Univ, and MIT . Harold’s degrees were in Chemistry, Meteorology and Oceanography. He was commissioned to the US Army Signal Corps in 1942 and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska to oversee a weather forecasting operation there in support of the US Pacific Fleet in World WarII. During a trip to Dayton, Ohio in 1944 , he met his future wife, Roberta Pauline Rose and corresponded with her while separated from the War . They were married on Sept 26, 1946 and have been married for 66years. After leaving active military duty in 1946 , Harold worked as a meteorologist and oceanographer in multiple government agencies, including the Thunderstorm Project (1946), US Navy Hydrographic Office and helped establish the National Oceanographic Data Center (laterNOAA) in1960. In that capacity, Harold was privileged to travel all over the world to foster relationships for ocean data collection. He and his family relocated from Washington DC to Wilmington NC in 1971, and Harold was with the Coastal Plains Commission and was Acting Director of the NC Marine Resources Center (now the NC Aquarium) at Fort Fisher. In 1980, Harold helped to establish the SURF Project at UNCW, which later became part of the Marine Science Dept there. Harold also co-authored two books on oceanography:101Questions About the Ocean (1968) and 1001Questions About the Ocean (1972), along with multiple published technical papers. Among his professional awards include recognition in American Men of Science. Harold retired in 1986 but continued to be actively involved in community service. Most importantly, Harold loved his wife, family and being involved in sports, church and community activities. He volunteered with Pop Warner Football and the Wilmington YMCA basketball league. He enjoyed music, sang in the choirs for over 50years and loved playing his violin. Harold also served on the advisory board of the State Employees Credit Union. He constantly expressed how fortunate he was that God had blessed him with such a full life in work, family and community activities.
Harold is survived by his loving wife Pauline; daughters, Linda Sevilla (Tampa, FL), Deborah Dubach (Boulder ,CO) and Nancy Gower (Richmond, VA) and son, David Dubach (Raleigh, NC). He has five grandchildren, Kira Headrick, Casey and Austin Gower, and Matthew and Anna Wesley Dubach.
The family will receive friends from Friday 6 to 7 pm at Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Home 3915 Oleander Drive and request in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Wrightsboro United Methodist Church or Salvation Army Homeless Shelter.
Funeral Services will be conducted at Wrightsboro UMC on Saturday Aug24th at 11am with Pastor Jerry Jackson and Associate Pastor Lynn Wall officiating. Graveside services following at Oleander Memorial Gardens with Military Honors conducted by the American Legion Post 10 Honor Guard.
The staff of Coble Ward- Smith is honored to serve the family of Harold William Dubach.
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