Rodney Humphrey

It is with great sadness that we wish to announce the unexpected passing of Rodney James Humphrey. He was born April 13, 1969, in Belleville, Ontario, Canada to parents Michael and Rita (Payne) Humphrey.

He came to the United States at the early age of 2 weeks old. His first residence was at the North Park Inn and then a duplex in Richardson, Texas called the Friendship Circle; and he remains friends with four of the people, even 55 years later who lived there. Kristi LaRoe, Janie Van, Ron and Chris Bramhall.

Rodney participated in some sports, including COPS (City of Plano Swim team) and soccer but found his true interest at 14 years of age ~ motorcycles! He rode bikes until he was fifty-four. Yamaha, Honda and Harley’s. Though Rodney did not excel in school, he put his hand to many jobs here and in Norway. Working at Michael’s Arts and Crafts in the framing department, the Great Outdoors and the Steak and Ale Restaurants.

He landed a job with Al Lamb Honda, after completing a motorcycle mechanics course at Cedar Valley CC. He continued working at Al Lamb for a couple of years before signing on with Universal Antenna as an installer in 1988. This proved to be the start of a successful career that would take Rodney all over the USA and the world, installing and eventually managing satellite communication antenna projects.

Rodney was involved with many government projects in the US, Australia, Norway, Kwajalein and the UK. He was also a part of many scientific projects involving radio telescopes, including VLBA and Arecibo observatory.

His last project was superintendent and safety officer for a thirty-four meter, BWG telescope that was part of the Apollo deep space network, located at Fort Irwin, California.

The day that Rodney passed, he experienced an unexpected medical emergency. He had finished his shift at Fort Irwin, California. That same evening, he was scheduled to fly to Thailand to join his wife for a well-earned two-week holiday.

Rodney is survived by his wife Chanikarn “Bee” Humphrey of Khon Kaen, Thailand; daughters Anna Indine Humphrey of Vardo, Norway and Thea Naessett of Hone Loss, Norway; parents Mike and Rita Humphrey, of Plano, Texas; brother Michael Humphrey and his wife Becky, of Boca Roton, Florida; nieces Lyndsay Pospisil and her husband Nick and their sons Atticus and Revan, Emma Humphrey, of Dallas, Texas, Julia Humphrey, of Colleyville, Texas; nephew Zachary Humphrey, of Boca Rotan, Florida; uncle Leslie Payne and his wife Eileen, of Cambridge, Ontario, Canada; Kevin Payne, of Southampton, UK; aunt Susan (Sue) and her husband Paul Edwards, of Woking, UK.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Rodney’s life at 2:00 p.m., Friday, Mary 24, 2024 at Allen Family Funeral Options. If you wish to join the service via webcast, please visit: https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/101103