Alfred Arthur Gruber, age 95, of Newark, DE, died peacefully on August 9, 2015, in Newark, DE. He was born February 11, 1920, in New York City, to the late Otto Arthur Benedict Gruber and Charlotte Genoveva (Beyer) Gruber.

Al and his two younger brothers were full-fledged Bronx kids growing up. He attended New York University, the first in his family to do so and graduated in 1941with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the US Army Ordnance Corps and tested ammunition during WWII. In 1942, he married his childhood sweetheart, Annette Pausewang, in Sayville, New York. In 1946 he ended his Army service as a Major but stayed in the Army Reserve until 1952.

After his discharge, Al began a career with DuPont in the ammonia division at Belle Works, Charleston, WV. In 1954, he and his family, which now included two daughters, moved to Orange, TX, where he worked at DuPont’s Sabine River Works. In l964, he moved his family, now including a son, to Newark, DE, to work as a project engineer in DuPont’s Design Division at Louviers. He retired in 1978.

Upon retirement, Al who had always been an avid gardener, decided to grow and sell Christmas trees in Conowingo, MD. This he did for more than 20 years. He shared his research and experimentation on the growing of trees in ‘Christmas Trees,’ a national trade magazine. He also was an active member of the North East River Power Squadron, receiving a commendation for 50 years of service and membership in 2005.

He was an avid stamp collector, his major focus being Scandinavian postage. He belonged to several stamp clubs, exhibited in local and national shows, and wrote articles for a number of philatelic publications.

Al developed his passion for writing after he retired. He was a long-time member of the Newark Senior Center “Scribblers” Club, for years wrote a weekly family newsletter, wrote a column for the Newark Post newspaper, and wrote and published four books in recent years. His last book, “Jammin,” co-authored with his granddaughter, Elise Gruber, was published in 2014. He and Annette were active members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Newark since their arrival in Newark in1964.

Al is survived by his son, Mark Gruber (Mary) of Landenberg, PA, daughter, Carol Smith (Marty, deceased) of Lake Geneva, WI, daughter, Gretchen Cox (Jim) of Landenberg, PA, brother, Richard Gruber of Commack, NY, 6 grandchildren: Andrew Smith (Melody), Alexis Slupe (David), Renee Gruber (Jordan), Jessica Cox, Evan Gruber (Hannah), and Elise Gruber, and 1 great grandchild (Madison).

A private interment was held at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear, DE. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Al’s life on Saturday, October 3, 2015, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Newark, DE, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. followed by a service at 11:00. To send condolences, please visit www.rtfoard.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution checks can be made to the “Newark Senior Center” or “The Salvation Army” and sent c/o R.T. Foard & Jones Funeral Home, 122 W. Main St., Newark, DE 19711.