Louis Enloe (March 04, 1933 - February 02, 2025)

In loving memory of
Louis Enloe
  • March 04, 1933
  • -
  • February 02, 2025

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Obituary

Louis H. “Lou” Enloe, 91, formerly of Boulder, Colorado died Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Ocala, Florida.

He was born in El Dorado Springs, Missouri on March 4, 1933, the son of the late Lendon and Mildred Dunaway Enloe. Lou graduated from Bowie High School in Bowie, Arizona in 1951. He was very active in high school sports and competed at the state level in the 100 and 200 yard dashes in track and field.

He received his BS, MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering at the University of Arizona graduating in 1959. At U of A he was in the Engineering, Math and Physics Honorary Societies.

Lou spent his entire career with Bell Labs / Lucent Technologies in both Holmdel, New Jersey and Broomfield, Colorado. He retired as the Head of Systems Development in 1998 after 40 years of service.

A few of his accomplishments include receiving 12 patents through his research at Bell Labs, helping develop the first lasers and also designed the communication system which was installed in the first US communication satellite sent into space in 1961. Lou was proud to be listed in Who’s Who of American Scientists and Engineers.

When asked what his favorite accomplishment was Lou said it was his invention of the transistor distributed amplifier for his PhD. This device detonated enemy artillery shells high enough above the battlefield saving US soldiers lives.

His memberships include the American Society for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, Delta Chi Fraternity, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, Pi Mu Epsilon, Sigma Pi Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi and the American Littoral Society.

Lou always had a sense of adventure. He was a US Coast Guard Certified Captain, Master SCUBA Diver and YMCA SCUBA Instructor. He loved to go diving and salvaging on ship wrecks off of the New Jersey coast and has an impressive collection of huge lobster claws. He was an Instrument Rated Private Pilot and enjoyed flying his

Piper Commanche to visit family in Arizona. He was an avid fisherman, wild mushroom hunter, camper and snow skier. He enjoyed working with his Golden Retriever as a dog handler and tracker. After retiring he even took up riding a dirt bike motorcycle. They say a cat has 9 lives and Lou used up many of his lives getting the most out of life.

He had a dry sense of humor and usually was the only one laughing at his own jokes. Spending time with family was important to him in his later years. Growing up in southern Arizona he was very interested in Geronimo, Cochise and the Apache Native Americans often riding his horse Trigger into the Chiricahua Mountains near Bowie.

Lou is survived by his wife Patricia R. “Pat” Dawson Enloe, whom he married on May 27, 1956; a daughter Reina (Trent) Snyder of Ocala, Florida; two sons Lendon “Len” (Brenda) Enloe of Ft. Collins, Colorado and Mark (Kim) Enloe of Dunnellon, Florida; his six grandchildren Kelly (Trevor), Kira, Kevin, Sean (Alex), Josh (Kaitlyn) and Dan; a great granddaughter Torvi and his brother Howard Enloe of Anthony, New Mexico.

A celebration of Lou’s life and storytelling will be held at a later date. Arrangements were in care of the Baldwin Brothers Funeral and Cremation Society in Ocala, Florida. Memorial contributions can be made to the Boulder Humane Society, 2323 55th Street, Boulder, CO 80301.


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  1. Art Ryan says:
    11 Feb 2025
    Lou was a great man, a great leader and a great friend. I had the privilege of working with Lou for 20 years at Bell Labs and I learned a lot from him, not only from his sometimes amazing life stories which were true teaching moments, but from his attitude and how he approached everything, with true joy, whether work or play. He was a pleasure to be around. May Lou rest in peace and may his family be comforted in part by the knowledge that those of us who were blessed to have been associated with Lou, truly loved the man.

  2. Art Ryan says:
    11 Feb 2025
    Lou was a great man, a great leader and a great friend. I had the privilege of working with Lou over a 20 year span, during which time I learned a lot, not only from his life stories that were always teaching opportunities, but also from his attitude and approach to everything, always full of joy at whatever he was doing, be it work or play. I was indeed fortunate to have him be part of my life. May he rest in peace and may his family be comforted in the knowledge that he was loved by all of us who were blessed to be associated with him.

  3. Robert Gallegos says:
    11 Feb 2025
    Lou was one of the best bosses/leaders I had in my career and what I remember best about him was his very direct leadership style and the courage he had in supporting his people. I remember the days of the Center Stage Switch project; the ASIC fast-track development and his understanding of personal plans when conflicting with project goals. Specifically, the time I had a big elk hunt planned in the middle of crunch time and he told me to go on my hunt. He had a unique mix of being "firm and fair". 

  4. Larry Haas says:
    11 Feb 2025
    Lou was a special guy. I worked with Lou on a number of projects while at Bell Laboratories. Lou never took life overly seriously and always had some sage advice to share. Lou genuinely cared about his employees and was focused on helping them to become better. It was my great honor to have worked with so many quality individuals such as Lou while at the Labs.

  5. Dave Grandlienard says:
    10 Feb 2025
    Lou was a great department head for me during my young career in the early 80s. We did a lot together and he took care of me. I’d like to think I repaid him by becoming a seasoned lead engineer he would be proud of in the following four decades.

  6. Peter and Deborah Goldman says:
    10 Feb 2025
    We had the great privilege of working for Lou. In many ways he was responsible for Pete and I meeting as he hired Pete away from Holmdel to come to Denver. It was great working for someone that you admired technically as well as personally. It is not as common now to work for someone that you actually can look up to. May his memory be a blessing for all his loved ones and those of us that remember him fondly.

  7. Jim Ferenc says:
    10 Feb 2025
    I worked for and with Lou, off and on, in the second 20 years of his career. He was a wonderful boss who fostered cooperation between organizations, and offered succinct advice on corporate politics. I still quote his advice on flying private aircraft and early retirement. A well-rounded human being. I'll miss seeing Lou around Boulder.

  8. Greg Foxhoven says:
    07 Feb 2025
    Lou was a man of many talents. I had no clue of his achievements, amazing resume he had.
    God Bless Mr. Lou Enloe! May he rest in peace now after all his hard work! ❤️

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