Keith Stuart Nimitz, Sr

Keith S. Nimitz, Sr., 91, of Harvest, Alabama, passed away on December 4, 2025. Born on August 16, 1934, in Sawankhalok, Thailand, he immigrated to the United States in the 1950s to attend the University of Georgia on a Rotary Scholarship, beginning a lifelong journey of learning and achievement.

He earned a degree in Political Science from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand with a master’s from the University of Georgia, followed by degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His education led to a long and accomplished career in the aerospace and defense industry, including more than 20 years with General Electric, which brought him to Huntsville to work on the Space Shuttle Program, where he became a long-time resident.

After immigrating to the United States, Mr. Nimitz embraced his Christian faith and particularly enjoyed reading and quoting bible verses. For the majority of his adult life, he was an avid recreational tennis player who found happiness and friendship on the courts around the Huntsville area. He was also passionate about performance automobiles, with a particular love for BMWs and Porsches, and he took great pleasure in owning, driving, working on and discussing the engineering behind the cars he admired.

He is survived by his former wife, Irma S. Nimitz with whom he remained close; his children, Kenneth (Mandie) Nimitz, Tiffany (Grant) Devlin, Michael (Carol) Nimitz, and David Nimitz; and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his eldest son, Keith Nimitz, Jr., who passed away in 2001, a loss that remained a significant part of his family’s story.

A celebration of life for Mr. Nimitz will be held at Surin of Thailand (975 Airport Rd., Huntsville, AL 35802), his favorite restaurant for over 20 years, this Monday evening, December 22nd , from 6-8pm CST. A memorial service is planned for January 24th at Waycross First Assembly (1150 Darling Ave, Waycross, GA 31501) at 2pm EST.