Edward H. Hooper, a retired electrical engineer and model railroader, died July 8 from Parkinson's disease at St. Agnes Hospital. He was 81.
Edward Harley Hooper was born in Massena, N.Y., and raised in Muscle Shoals, Ala., where he graduated in 1949 from Sheffield High School.
After serving in the Air Force, he earned a bachelor's degree in 1956 in electrical engineering from Auburn University.
He began working for Westinghouse Electric Co. in 1961 as an electrical engineer, and retired in 1996 from successor company Northrop Grumman's Linthicum facility.
During his years as an electrical engineer, Mr. Hooper had his name on seven patents, family members said.
A resident of Catonsville since 1964, Mr. Hooper enjoyed photography and building and operating a large HO-gauge model railroad.
He was a communicant of the Episcopal Church of Christ the King, 1930 Brookdale Road, Woodlawn, where a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday.
Mr. Hooper is survived by his wife of 57 years, the former Mary Beatrice Bacon; two sons, Michael E. Hooper of Ellicott City and Donald J. Hooper of Westminster; and a grandson.