July 28, 2021
Arnold Wayne Hubbs, the most amazing father/pilot/friend/volunteer who ever lived, died peacefully at his home in Smithville, Tennessee at the age of 82, but looked much younger.
Born of humble beginnings in Pineville, Kentucky, to Nolan Hubbs and Lou Anna Hubbs, and spending much of his life in New Castle, Indiana where he graduated high school in 1957, he went on to achieve great success as the developer of non-asbestos brake lining products and Technical Manager at Ferodo America. A highlight of Wayne’s career was being asked to give a presentation at the International Technical Conference in Europe.
After taking an early retirement, Wayne really started enjoying life. As a member of the First United Methodist church, Wayne served as trustee and took on nearly every repair and maintenance job himself. He also worked in the church food pantry every week and on Sundays he recorded the church service for shut-ins. Wayne never met a child or an animal that he didn’t love. So, in Addition to his duties as trustee, and after making sure all the deer and wild turkeys on his property were fed each day, Wayne devoted countless hours to the church pre-school, and vacation bible school, donating several bicycles each year. He also headed up a project called Warm Wings and purchased dozens of coats each year to give to underprivileged children in the community.
Flying was Wayne’s greatest passion. He could be seen regularly soaring through the skies of Smithville and beyond in “Big Red”, his beloved Magni Gyro.
Wayne built Big Red from a kit he ordered from Italy with meticulous attention to every detail. His efforts were rewarded when he won the Grand Champion and first place awards at the annual Gyro show held in Mentone, Indiana. Not only did Wayne win twice for the best machine, but also won twice for flying the longest distance to attend the show.
Wanting to nurture an early love of flying in young people, Wayne helped develop the Young Eagles program at Smithville airport. He was a founding member of the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association and held every office at one time or another. In addition to that, he was a member of the Popular Rotorcraft Association, as well as other flying related clubs. At nearly 80 years old, Wayne flew his gyro to the East coast to demonstrate its capabilities to a governmental group wanting to use gyros to curb the poaching of Elephants in Africa.
Everyone who knew Wayne and especially those lucky enough to call him colleague, or friend, or dad would probably say…. “If there was anything Wayne couldn’t do, and do well, we never found it.”
Wayne is survived by his two daughters, Lisa G (Richard) Hawk of Middletown, Indiana and Sheryl (Alan) May of Heimbuchenthal, Germany; one brother Charles Curtis Floyd of Anderson, Indiana; grandchildren Heather Williams, Alex (Ashley)Hicks, Thomas Eddy, Derek Eddy, Steven (Jenna) May, Samira (Johannes) Breunig, and Aria Hawk. Great Grandchildren: Jaden New, Naomi Long, Landon Hicks, Karina Hicks, Gabby Hicks, McKenzie Hicks, Hailey May, Taniah Abernathy and Trace Abernathy, along with several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of Wayne’s life will be held August 21, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Smithville Municipal Airport, 338 Airport Drive, Smithville, TN 37166.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Smithville First United Methodist Church, Gods Food Pantry or the Methodist Church Preschool. These donations can be made either at the church or through Love-Cantrell Funeral Home, 100 East Church St. Smithville, TN 37166.