Thomas King McCubbin, Jr., 89, of State College died Thursday February 5, 2015 at Foxdale Village in State College.

Born June 1, 1925 in Baltimore MD he was the son of the late Thomas King and Isabel (McElmoyle) McCubbin.

On January 27, 1951 in Baltimore MD he married Mary Lamb who survives in State College.

King entered the service during World War II serving in the US Navy on the destroyer USS Denver. He studied at the University of Louisville under the Naval V-12 program, receiving a degree in electrical engineering and his Commission as Ensign, Junior Grade in 1946.

Honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946 he went on to Johns Hopkins University to receive his Ph.D.in Physics in 1951. King continued his post-doctoral research work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology until 1957, when he joined the physics faculty at The Pennsylvania State University, retiring Professor Emeritus in 1989. During his tenure in the physics department he was twice chosen as a Fulbright Scholar, working at the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris and University of Dijon, France, pioneering in the field of infrared spectroscopy. Although he was a preeminent research scientist, his core interest was teaching.

He was active in the Optical Society of America, serving as its President and on the board of directors.
King had many interests outside physics. He was a skilled amateur photographer. He was an aficionado of a wide range of classical music, particularly chamber music and opera. He was a member of a literary society during his student days at Johns Hopkins University. He continued a lively interest in literature and theatre throughout his life. After he retired he began every morning reading French literary classics. He was also an appreciative museum-goer, especially well-informed about European visual arts. He had a marvelous dry sense of humor; he used to tell students in his introductory physics classes that the symbol for a vector pointing directly out of the written surface was a representation the "Saint Sebastian's eye view". At home he complained that no one in his classes ever laughed at that joke.

He was a longtime member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by Mary Louisa McCubbin (Rollin "Speedy" Zawistowski) of State College, Thomas King McCubbin, III of New Cumberland PA, and Ruth Isabella Weber (Fredric) of Port Matilda; one sister, Jane Bornemann of Baltimore MD and three grandchildren, Chelsea Anne McCubbin of Chambersburg PA, Amberlee Lynn Weber of Brooklyn NY and Ariel Celeste Weber of Houston TX.

A memorial service will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday February 14, 2015 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 208 Foster Avenue, State College PA 16801 with The Reverend Lisa Schoonmaker officiating.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in King's name may be made to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.

A guest book can be signed or condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com