Franklin Lee Hornbuckle

Franklin Lee Hornbuckle was born in Birmingham, Alabama on January 19,1941 to Lee Early Sr. and Louisa Hornbuckle who preceded him in death. He confessed Christ at a very early age and made his transition on November 9, 2020.

Frank attended Western Olin High School in Birmingham, AL and graduated in January of 1958 at the age of 16, receiving the Exchange Club Scholarship. He went on to attend Tennessee State University where he received his BS degree in Electrical Engineering and then attended Rutgers University where he received his MS degree in Electrical Engineering. Frank had an extensive and successful career in Engineering and Aerospace, working at RCA Astro Electronics in East Windsor, NJ, Fairchild Space in Germantown, MD, CTA Spacecraft in Beltsville, MD and then retiring from Swales Aerospace in Greenbelt, MD as Chief Operating Officer. While working with RCA, he designed the circuitry for the camera that was used on the Apollo Moon Shot mission in July of 1969 that was manned by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. While at Swales Aerospace, he oversaw the Themis space project of 2007.This was a project that put 5 Satellites into space and orbit at one time, a feat that had never been accomplished before.

Frank was a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and enjoyed spending time with his fraternity brothers giving back to the community. He was also a proud member of 19th Street Baptist Church of Washington, DC for many years. In his spare time he enjoyed traveling, golfing and spending time with his brothers affectionately known as "The Buck Boys".

Frank will be missed by many. He is preceded in death by his wife Shirley and his brother Arthur Dwight. He leaves to cherish his memory of love and devotion, his son Michael and daughter-in-law Jennifer of Glen Burnie, MD, step-son George Henry, grandchildren Deshawn, Christopher, Christiana and Cameron, brothers Napoleon (Dorothy) of Atlanta, GA, Julius (Marva) of Nashville, TN, Lee Early Jr. (Carole) of Cincinnati, OH and Michael of Birmingham, AL, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of Frank Hornbuckle would be greatly appreciated.