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.
God Bless Mr. Lou Enloe! May he rest in peace now after all his hard work! ❤️