William Cobb

Mr. William Edward Cobb, 87, of Jefferson, Maryland died on Saturday, November 12, 2011. He was the husband of Mrs. Simone A. Cobb with whom he celebrated his 47th anniversary on August 15, 2011.

The first son of Merle and Erva (Smith) Cobb, he was born on April 2, 1924 in Chicago, IL. He later moved with his family to the Finger Lakes region of New York and then to Washington D.C. where he graduated from McKinley Technical High School in 1942. He enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and served at the Navy Weather Center in Washington D.C. and aboard the USS McKinney in the Pacific. He was a member of the meteorological team during the 1946 Bikini Atomic Bomb tests and later attended the University of Maryland where he majored in Meteorology. During a 38 year career with the Weather Bureau Center (later called the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). He worked at Richmond, VA, Washington National Airport, Wake Island in the Pacific Ocean, Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii and for the last 22 years of his career at Boulder, CO.

He published more than 20 scientific papers and in 1976 he was awarded the Department of Commerce silver medal for his participation in the thunderstorm research project and in support of NASA's Apollo project. Bill loved his work, especially the thunderstorm studies when he made hundreds of flights into storms in a rugged B26 aircraft measuring and understanding the storms electrical properties. Mr. Cobb made numerous trips to the Amundsen-Scott South PoleStation and was awarded the Congressional Antarctic Service Medal for his work there. Bill found much happiness in the love and companionship he shared with his wife Simone and two lovely daughters, Barbara Cobb-Jepperson and her husband Glenn and Lisa Cobb-Baker. He is also survived by his sister Jean Kosta of Oregon, sister-in-law Ruth Cobb of Pylesville, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friend Robert Proffitt of Adamstown.

The memorial service will be held at 11am, on Saturday, November 19, 2011, at First Baptist Church, 7040 Bowers Rd Frederick, MD. Rev. Dr. Larry L. Eubanks will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, 1393 Progress Way, Suite 908, Eldersburg, MD 21784.

Online condolences may be shared at www.keeneybasford.com.