Alex “Al” Alphonse Vawryk
August 2, 1937 – December 31, 2022
Alex “Al” Alphonse Vawryk, 85, of Melbourne, Florida, went to meet his Heavenly Father, on the evening of December 31, 2022.
He was born in Wyandotte, Michigan on August 2, 1937, to the late Alex C. Vawryk and Jean U. Gumkowski. Al graduated from J.W. Wright Technical School, Stamford, Connecticut. He attended Brevard Community College and received an A.S. degree in General Education and the International Correspondence School and received an A.S. Certificate in Metallurgy. He attended Florida Institute of Technology and Rollins College studying Computer Science. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1956. He served his country during the Cold War in Arizona, Guam and Orlando in the Strategic Air Command as an aircraft mechanic and radio operator. While stationed in Orlando, he met the love of his life and soulmate, Ethel “Candy” Pritchett. They were married on June 18, 1960. Their first home was in Longwood, Florida and they soon started their family. The family moved around the south following the job opportunities available. The family was then called to Stamford, Connecticut because of the death of his brother Anthony “Tony” Vawryk and lived there for a year until having enough of the cold and snow, they moved back to the Sunshine State and planted their roots on Florida’s Space Coast for the rest of their lives. He was a retired Lead Engineering Specialist with Radiation/Harris Corporation. During his career he worked in the structures department as a sheet metal mechanic and aluminum dip braze specialist creating all types of military and space related hardware for programs including the Apollo Command Module and Lunar Excursion Module (LEM), Space Shuttle, Voyager I and Voyager II space probes, Galileo space probe, NASA Test Operations Control Center, SpaceLab, National Aero-Space Plane, TDRS satellite, Hubble Space Telescope, International Space Station and USAF B1 bomber. Later on he was in charge of the engineering model shop and created many models of space and military hardware that were vital to the advancement of scientific knowledge and our country’s defense including AGM-130, AWACS, THAAD, A10-CDU, Phased Array Antenna, Aquila RPV. In his last position with Harris Corporation, he traveled extensively around the country rebuilding the U.S. Air Traffic Control system. When he had the chance, he liked to visit casinos to win if he could. Panning for gold and hunting for buried treasure with a metal detector were his two other passions. Since his two sons attended the University of Florida, he was an avid Gator fan. He could strike up a conversation with anyone he met and did so often. He was a fierce and loyal friend and would do anything he could for you. He was known to many as “Mr. Fix-it” because of his ability to fix or create anything. He was a proud grandpa, known to his grandchildren and others as “Boompa.” He was active with his grandchildren taking every opportunity to be involved in their lives and achievements. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father and grandfather who touched the lives of many throughout the years.
He was an active member of Ascension Catholic Church. Over the years, He had many volunteering opportunities including: Indian River Players (local theater group), Melbourne Ushers Club, Loyal Order of the Moose, Knights of Columbus, Ascension Catholic School; Pack 373 Cub Scouts and Troop 373 Boy Scouts of America; and was immensely involved with Eau Gallie High School Marching Commodore Band, being a band parent to all.
He is survived by his sons, Tim (Liz) Vawryk of Louisville, KY; Christopher Vawryk of Orlando, FL; his grandchildren, his pride and joy, Peter Vawryk of Bowling Green, KY, Laura Vawryk and Amy Vawryk both of Louisville, KY; He was preceded in death by his loving wife Candy of 62 years, parents Alex C. Vawryk and Jean Lapczynski, and brothers Edward Lapczynski and Anthony Vawryk.
Memorial and visitation with the family will be held Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., Clark Funeral Home Chapel, 334 South Broad Street, Cairo, GA. Catholic Rite of Burial will be held at the Greenwood Cemetery, US 84, Cairo, GA immediately following at 3:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the donor’s favorite charity in his honor.
Anyone wishing to send the family a message or share a story is asked to visit Alex’s memorial page at www.clarkfuneral.com.
