Waite Hoyt Todd, Sr., 95, of Huntsville, passed away Monday, December 5, 2022.

Waite was born Sept. 15, 1927 in Trussville, Alabama.  He was the only son of Akellis and Iva Lee Todd. In 1945, at the age of 18, Waite joined the US Navy, where he served on a minesweeper. In 1948, he attended Howard College in Birmingham before transferring to Auburn to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduation in 1951, he was employed at Rohm and Haas on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

In June 1952, Waite married Doris Owens in Birmingham. During the years of 1954 to 1956, Waite earned an MS in Electrical Engineering at Auburn.  In 1956, he and Doris returned to the city they loved and called home, Huntsville, to join the Research Directorate of the US Army Missile Command. During the following 31 years, he became the Director of the Advanced Sensors Directorate where he remained until retirement in 1987. At that time, he accepted a position with Nichols Research in Huntsville where he worked on Foreign Weapon Technology.  He retired from Nichols in January 1996.

During his tenure with the Missile Command, Waite's work involved Anti-Tank Weaponry and Air-to-Air Missiles, along with major systems, such as Hellfire, TOW, Mauler and RedEye. He valued the many engineering professionals he met during his working years and has been so pleased their friendships have continued in retirement.

In his private life, he enjoyed many days in his workshop creating lovely pieces of furniture for family and friends. He was an avid supporter of Auburn University Athletics and was often a professional consultant to the Auburn Engineering Dept. In addition, Waite enjoyed extensive travel with Doris and pursuing his interest in photography.

Waite is survived by his wife, Doris; daughter, Cindy Berryhill (Freddy); son, Waite "Chip" todd, Jr., and sisters, Gay Webb, Birmingham, and Lou McCrary, Huntsville.

Surviving Waite also is his very special dog, Dinky. The family requests remembrances be made to "A New Leash on Life".

No services are planned.  Berryhill Funeral Home assisted the family.