Wayne Deward Stinnett

Wayne Deward Stinnett was born to Robert Larkin Stinnett and Alice Modenia Hallford January 10, 1923 in Porum, Oklahoma, the fifth son in a family of six boys and one girl. He passed into eternity on July 1, 2017. Mr. Stinnett grew up in Cushing, Oklahoma, graduating from Cushing High School in June of 1940. He attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma through the following fall and spring semesters, where he was a member of the NROTC. He tested and was selected for an appointment to the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, where he entered the Class of 1945 on June 26, 1941. He graduated from the Academy in June of 1941 with a degree in engineering, and the rank of ensign. He was assigned to the USS Wilkes Barre, a Cleveland-class light cruiser commissioned July 1, 1944, where he served in a number of assignments including turret officer in the main battery of 6-inch/47 caliber guns, and local control director for the 5-inch/38 caliber guns. Aboard the Wilkes Barre he served in the Pacific Theatre, including shore bombardments in support of the troop landings on Iwo Jima and rescue operations in support of the stricken aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill. Following the end of WW II Mr. Stinnett resigned his commission and took employment in the aerospace industry, working first at Reaction Motors, Inc. in New Jersey as a test engineer, and then with Aerojet General Corporation. He worked as Project Manager of the Vanguard second stage propulsion system, Division Manager of the Space Propulsion Division, Chief Engineer and Program Manager of the Nuclear Rocket Operations Division, and Vice-President and deputy General manager of the Idaho Nuclear Corporation, a subsidiary of Aerojet charged with managing the operations and nuclear safety programs of the Idaho Test Facility for the Atomic Energy Commission. During that time, he was a member and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and Chairman of the AIAA Committee on Nuclear Propulsion (1967-1969). In consideration of program cancellations at NASA, Mr. Stinnett pursued employment in the shipbuilding industry. He joined the Advanced Marine Technology Division (AMTD) of Litton Industries in 1970 and was Director of Systems Engineering for the LHA ship design and construction program (1970-1971). AMTD merged into Litton's Ingalls Shipbuilding Division in 1971. He was Director of Quality Engineering (1972-77) and Director of Quality Control (1978-81). He was appointed Vice-President of Quality Assurance in 1982 and served as an officer of the company in various functions until Retirement in August of 1988). He married Marilyn Bettencourt on June 10,1950. Together they raised six children, living in Claremont, CA, then EI Dorado Hills, CA, and finally in Mobile, AL. Upon retirement, they moved to Palm Desert, CA where Mr. Stinnett pursued his passion f r golf. Following the death of his wife, he relocated to EI Paso, TX with son Paul and daughter Anne. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Alice Stinnett; wife Marilyn; sister Pauline; brothers Clarence, Owen, Arvil, Clem, and Carl; and son James. He is survived by daughters Kathy Stinnett of Mountain Center, CA, and Anne Stinnett of EI Paso, TX; sons Wayne Stinnett, Jr. of Houston, TX, Paul Stinnett of EI Paso, TX, and John Stinnett of Mobile, AL; grandchildren Anne Stinnett of Cathedral City, CA, Sabrina Eaton and husband Jon of Palm Springs, CA, and Michael Stinnett-Kassoff of Williamsburg, VA; and great-grandchildren Zander and Alexis Eaton of Palm Springs, CA. Mr. Stinnett was raised in the Church of Christ, but later was baptized into the Southern Baptist denomination. He was received into The Roman Catholic faith in November of 2013. A requiem mass will be said for Mr. Stinnett at the Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel in EI Paso, TX on Saturday, July 8. His remains will be transported to Riverside County, CA, where a requiem mass will be said at the Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert, CA on July 14, followed by interment at the Riverside National Cemetery.