In Memoriam

Cox Provided Counsel, Leadership as Trustee Dedicated trustee and supporter Benjamin Guille Cox, 73, died Nov. 18, 2019, in Terre Haute. He was a lifetime member of the Board of Trustees, serving as chairman from 1995-2001, and received an Honorary Doctor of Engineering from Rose-Hulman in 2002. Throughout the years Cox provided wise counsel, loyal leadership, and dedicated support to the institute. That commitment was paved by his father, Benjamin Guille Cox Sr., who also was a member and chairman of the trustees. A graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Law School, Guille returned to his hometown to practice law for 44 years and became an influential community leader. He and his wife of 52 years, Cynthia, were loyal supporters and friends of Rose-Hulman.

Luegenbiehl Built Educational Bridges Across World Caring educator and visionary administrator Heinz C. Luegenbiehl, 71, died March 1, 2020, in Las Vegas. He taught courses in philosophy and professional ethics during a 34-year tenure on the Rose-Hulman faculty. His professional publications primarily covered topics on engineering ethics, liberal arts education, and the social dimensions of technology. As head of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Luegenbiehl was instrumental in promoting an East Asian Studies program that helped establish an academic relationship between Rose-Hulman and Kanazawa Institute of Technology. He also taught at Nanzan University in Japan as a Fulbright Faculty Scholar.

1945), 94, died Feb. 3, 2020, in Tempe, Ariz. He retired as director of the engineering physics and mathematics division with Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory. John A. Smith (ME, 1949), 98, died Dec. 2, 2019, in Gardner, Kan. He retired after a 25-year career with Western Electric Company.

1951), 91, died Nov. 30, 2019, in Sarasota, Fla. He retired after founding Elcom Sales, BKT Associates and R. Baker Electronics.

1951), 90, died Dec. 11, 2019, in Bloomington, Ind. He retired as a division manager after 30 years of service with the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Crane (Ind.) Division. John C. Soucie (EE, 1952), 92, died Jan. 26, 2020, in Indianapolis. He was a rocket engineer with Naval Avionics for 32 years.

1957), 84, died Jan. 16, 2020, in Decatur, Ill. He was an engineer with Illinois Power for 38 years.

1964), 76, died Feb. 2, 2020, in Arlington, Tenn. He retired as a tenured professor with Tulane University’s A. B. Freeman School of Business.

1964), 78, died Dec. 29, 2019, in Olympia, Wash. He served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years, retiring as a captain in the aviator corps. He commanded a fleet attack squadron, a fleet attack training squadron, and carrier air group.

1964), 78, died Dec. 11, 2019, in Middletown, Ind. He worked as an engineer in Indiana, Hawaii, and California before teaching science at Centralia Community College in Washington.

1964), 78, died Dec. 14, 2019, in Cedarville, Ohio. He retired as vice president of academics with Cedarville University.

1965), 77, died Jan. 5, 2020, in Sheldon, S.C. He had a 33-year career with Exxon Corporation. Survivors include his son, Mark J. Schuld (CHE, 1991).

1967), 74, died Jan. 26, 2020, in Asheville, N.C. He spent more than 30 years as an engineer, entrepreneur, and college professor before becoming a talented sculptor in retirement. His most prized work was a bronze bust of legendary Rose-Hulman professor/dean/ administrator Herman Moench for a special campus tribute by the Class of 1967.

Charlé Rae Rupp (PH, 1969), 72, died Jan. 3, 2020, in Clay City, Ind. He had 15 patents for his technology innovations with General Electric, Digital Equipment Corp., and National Semiconductor. He also assisted the development of several Silicon Valley startups and taught at University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

1972), 69, died March 6, 2020, in Teutopolis, Ill. He was a founding partner with Milano & Grunloh Engineers of Effingham, Ill., until his retirement in 2014.

1973), 68, died Dec. 7, 2019, in Anthem, Ariz. He worked with General Dynamics, GTE Corporation, and A.G. Communication Systems. Robert D. Cales (CE, 1974), 67, died Nov. 16, 2019, in Indianapolis, Ind. He retired after a 42-year career as an engineer with the Indiana Department of Transportation. Brian D. McCarty (CE, 1976), died Nov. 17, 2019, in Alexandria, Va., and was buried at Arlington Cemetery in February. He retired as a colonel after 23 years of service with the Air Force. McCarty was deputy director of research and acquisitions and chair of the medical modernization panel for the Office of the U.S. Air Force Surgeon General. He was presented the Alumni Association’s Career Achievement Award in 1996.

1983), 58, died Dec. 1, 2019, in Noblesville, Ind. He was an engineer with Johnson Controls for several years, helping redesign the library at IUPUI and building several hospitals throughout central Indiana.

1984), 57, died Nov. 15, 2019, in Brazil, Ind. He was a plant engineer with Tredegar Film Products.

CHEM, 1986), 55, died Sept. 14, 2019, in Owatonna, Minn. He retired after serving as a plant manager and safety auditor with Akrema Inc. Earlywine also worked for several chemical companies in Indiana and Tennessee.

1986), 55, died Feb. 20, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. He spent more than 30 years in refrigeration manufacturing, primarily with General Electric Company.

1990; MSAO, 1992), 52, died March 7, 2020, in Seymour, Ind. He was manager of optical engineering and regulations with Valeo Lighting Systems of North America. He also had a patent for a system and method for controlling a lighting and/or signaling device. Jared S. Lesser (CE, 2003), 38, died Sept. 30, 2019, in Indianapolis, Ind.

2012), 30, died Oct. 12, 2019, in Bloomington, Ind. He was a senior product development engineer with Cook Medical.

SPECIAL FRIENDS Mark Farner, 62, died March 24, 2020, in Terre Haute. The longtime ARAMARK employee served as the campus’ food service manager before retiring in 2014. David L. Gibbs, 68, died Nov. 20, 2019, in Terre Haute. He was director of the Rose Chorus from 2004-11 and accompanied several student performers at campus shows. Lucien H. Meis, 85, died Feb. 27, 2020, in Terre Haute. He was a longtime friend and philanthropic supporter of the institute and its leadership. His wife of 54 years, Alane, is an emeriti trustee. Stacey Muncie, 49, died March 8, 2020, in Cory, Ind. She was a digital storyteller and editor in the Office of Communications and Marketing. In these roles she was a frequent Echoes contributor and helped develop some of the clever marketing materials that were popular with alumni and prospective students. Alumni survivors include her husband, Jerry (ME, 1994), and daughter, Maddie (BC, 2019). A Muncie Scholarship Endowment Fund has been established. Donations can be made at www.rose-hulman.edu/muncie.