Wayne R. Covington, 78, Dies; Designer Of 747S And Stained Glass

Wayne R. Covington was a rocket scientist and a rose judge, a designer of stained glass and 747s.

"Here's this engineer who loved all this other fun stuff," said his son, Cameron Covington. "He was a big old tall Texan that worked for Boeing and lived all over the place."

His Boeing career spanned 45 years and included work on the B-17 bomber, Minuteman missile and Saturn V rocket.

"I was one of those kids that saw those billboards that said, `Will the last person to leave Seattle please turn out the lights?' " his son said, recalling the days when Boeing took a downturn. "He made it through all of that stuff."

Mr. Covington earned distinctions along the way, including the "Silver Snoopy" award, presented by NASA director and former astronaut Deke Slayton for significant contributions to America's space-shuttle program. He worked on the 747 that ferried the Space Shuttle between Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

His work took him to New Orleans, Sacramento, Alabama and Sweden, where he worked as a consultant, helping the European Space Association develop a space program.

But he kept his home on Queen Anne Hill during those years. "He just loved Seattle," his son said.

Mr. Covington died Wednesday (May 5) of complications related to cancer. He was 78.

Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, Mr. Covington earned a bachelor of science degree from Georgia Tech. He taught engineering at Kilgore College in Texas and Texas A&M before earning a graduate degree from Texas A&M. He did doctoral work at the University of California.

His first wife, Phyllis Covington, died just before his retirement in 1988. He went on a cruise soon after and met his current wife, Pauline Covington. He "inherited a big old family from Canada . . . and they've been having the time of their lives ever since," Cameron Covington said.

Retirement also gave him more time for other passions, including stained glass. He took a class years ago in Pioneer Square, "and he fell in love and went to town," his son said, making lampshades and windows, including one at Seattle's St. Andrews Episcopal Church.

Mr. Covington also loved roses, especially red and white varieties, and judged for the American Rose Society. He was a traditional jazz aficionado and active in the Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society.

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Covington is survived by stepsons Paul and Campbell Mackenzie; a grandson; four step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren, all of British Columbia.

A service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 111 N.E. 80th St., Seattle. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society.