Dr. Richard H. Bube
Resident of Stanford
Richard H. Bube, Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, passed into the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 9, 2018 at the age of 90. A memorial service has been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the evening of Tuesday, July 10, at Foothill Covenant Church (1555 Oak Ave., Los Altos, CA).
Born on August 10, 1927 in Providence, RI, “Dick” received his Sc.B. degree in Physics from Brown University in 1946 and his Ph.D. in Physics from Princeton University in 1950. Between 1948 and 1962 he was a member of the research staff at the RCA David Sarnoff Research Laboratories in Princeton, NJ. He joined the faculty of Stanford University in 1962, serving 30 years as Professor in the departments of Materials Science and Electrical Engineering until his retirement in 1992. From 1975 to 1986 he was Chairman of the Department of Materials Science. His research was concerned with the photoelectronic properties of materials, including photoconductivity, luminescence, photovoltaic effects, semiconductors, and solar energy conversion. Dr. Bube is the author of six scientific books and over 300 research publications, and 56 Ph.D. students earned their degrees under his direction.
In 1948, he married the first love of his life, Betty Jane, and they had four children, Mark, Ken, Sherri, and Merry. Their loving marriage lasted over 48 years until Betty Jane was called home to her Lord in 1997. In 2000, he met and married the second love of his life, Mary Anne. Mary Anne and Dick have shared over 18 loving years together.
At the age of 11, he heard a clear presentation of the Christian Gospel through the ministry of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Providence. He wrote, “My heart said ‘Yes’ to God almost immediately, and I began my walk with Christ as one for whom he had died and risen again.” His whole life reflected this commitment. As both a dedicated Christian and a dedicated scientist, he wrote seven books and over 100 articles on issues in science and Christianity. Seeing no conflict between genuine science and authentic Christianity, he strove to help scientists understand Christianity and help Christians understand science. He was a faculty sponsor for the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Stanford University and taught an Undergraduate Seminar at Stanford on the interaction between science and Christianity for 25 years. He was a member of the American Scientific Affiliation, a society of scientists who are Christians, serving as editor of their journal for 25 years. He worshiped most recently at Foothill Covenant Church in Los Altos and the Palo Alto Christian Reformed Church. He has taught adult education classes at numerous churches, and has lectured on science and Christianity at over 60 colleges and universities. He was known for his gentle and patient spirit as he sought to encourage people to grow in their faith and understanding.
As he contemplated his passing, he wrote, “Trusting that death is but one stage in God’s plan for me through Jesus Christ, I enter into this new adventure holding firmly to my Lord and Savior.”
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Anne, his four children and their spouses, Mark and Kathy Bube, Ken and June Bube, Sherri and Jim Tilley, and Merry and Mark Issichopoulos; five grandchildren (and two spouses), David and Kelsey Tilley, Jonathan Tilley, Doug Issichopoulos, Janie Bube, and Amy and Brian Campbell; Mary Anne’s daughter Elaine Bowers and her partner Bob Thompson, and Mary Anne’s son Mark Harman and grandson Brennan Harman.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in his honor and to the glory of God may be sent to Foothill Covenant Church (www.foothillcov.org), or to Palo Alto Christian Reformed Church (www.pacrc.org). Notes to the family may be sent to FriendsofRHBube@gmail.com.