Gary S. Bales

Gary Steven Bales died Feb. 27. He was 51.

Bales was born Aug. 22, 1963 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He graduated from Cathedral Christian Academy in 1981, received his bachelor’s at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1985, and his master’s and doctorate in statistical physics at the Georgia Technical Institute of Technology in 1990.

Bales worked as a professor and research scientist at Queens University, Kingston, Canada. He then did research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California where he developed many scientific theories that have been published in physics journals. He spoke at many international conferences in the Physics Society. Honors and awards include: Physics and Space Technology Outstanding Research, Most Outstanding Physics Undergraduate, Presentation Award at NATO conference in Italy. Recently he was the CEO and owner of Prime Computers Solutions in Center Point, Alabama.

Bales enjoyed playing the piano, listening to classical music, hiking, playing chess, web site development and solving computer problems.

He is survived by his parents, Gary and Judy Bales; sister, Sherrie (Brian) Machen; niece, Briana Machen; sons, Matthew and Brandon Bales, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A funeral service will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 5 at Ridout's Trussville Chapel. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Burial service will be held at Hamilton Memorial Gardens in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Friday, March 6 at 12p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the UA-Acts Program, University of Alabama, Box 87026, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in honor of Steve Bales.