Obituary: Henry Maxey "Max" Ireland

Henry Maxey (Max) Ireland was born in Chickamauga, Georgia, on April 25, 1932, and passed away peacefully at his home in Ormond Beach, Florida, on March 17, 2017, at the age of 84.  
After graduating from Chickamauga High School, Max enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1953. He later received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology (e.g. Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, Georgia.
Max began his long career in aerospace technology at the Hughes Aircraft Company as an electrical engineer before accepting a position at Martin Marietta Corporation in Orlando, Florida, where he served as the program director of six programs, including the Sprint Missile program, the Patriot Missile program and the Apache Helicopter Night Vision Fire Control System program. He then spent two-and-one-half years in on the island of Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands in charge of the Sprint Missile Flight Test program.
After retiring from the Martin Marietta Corporation, he accepted the roles of president and CEO of the Coleman Aerospace Research Corporation in Orlando, and later, he established his own aerospace consulting business, where he served for 16 years until his retirement. Max served on the cutting edge of research and technology of anti-ballistic missile technology for nearly 50 years.
Max enjoyed reading, golfing and traveling immensely. He lived in the states of Georgia, California, Texas, Alabama, Virginia, and Florida, as well as the Marshall Islands, and he traveled to five of the seven continents.
In 1953, he married Rose Lanier. They were married for 46 years and are survived by four children. Later, he was married to Autumn (Cook) Ireland for 16 years until his passing. He is survived by four children, Steven Ireland (Dawn Ireland), Anita Hasegawa (John Hasegawa), Robin Ireland (Greg Gardner) and Ken Ireland. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and his wife, Autumn Ireland.
Max was a brilliant man, loved by many and respected by more. He often referred to himself as “just a small-town farm boy from Chickamauga.” He was, actually, one hell of a rocket man.
A memorial service celebrating Max’s life will be at 3 p.m. Friday, March 24, 2017, at Oakland Presbyterian Church, 218 Oakland Ave., Oakland, Florida 34760.
Arrangements are in the care and trust of Craig-Flagler Palms Funeral Home, in Flagler Beach.
Condolences may be sent to craigflaglerpalms.com.