George Stinnett

(From Parker Mortuary)

George Barclay Stinnett, age 92 of Joplin, Missouri, died on March 16, 2023, from complications after he fell at his home. He was transferred to National Health Care in Joplin where he passed away peacefully.

George is survived by his children, Deborah Miller, Barbara Flores, and Stephen Stinnett, his grandchildren Gregory Flores, Lara Plasencia, Paul Lapinsky and Thesa Reyes, and great grandchildren Grace, Chandler, Jacob, Liam, Macy, Maxine, Mykenzie, Ricky and Torin.

George was born to Murray and Laura Stinnett on June 26, 1930, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. George attended Bell High School in Los Angeles, California. He loved tennis and became Captain of the Bell High School Tennis Team and earned his letterman sweater.

George enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas where he was trained as an International Specialty Radio Operator.

The day after he was discharged, he married Opal Viola Crockett on June 7, 1952, in Junction City, Kansas. The next day George, Opal and his brother Gene climbed into their car and drove out to California to follow their dreams.

George became a draftsman, and he contributed to the design of the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington.

George was very proud of his contributions to the USA Space Program. One memory he gave to his oldest daughter Debbie: When she was 4 years old, she was riding on his shoulders one dark night, and he pointed out Sputnik to her passing overhead. George worked at Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) in Pasadena, and at Vandenberg Air Force Base while working on the Atlas and Titan missile projects. Whenever he could, he took his daughters to the outskirts of Vandenberg to watch the missiles launch.

George traveled with his family throughout the Midwest and Southwest, gifting us with the experience of seeing life in many states and visiting many US National Parks. We saw the iconic Burma Shave signs and stopped at numerous Stuckey Pecan Shops along Route 66. We all sang along with Chubby Checker, Elvis, and all the novelty songs on the many radio stations we heard along the way.

After returning to California, George changed the trajectory of his professional life and became an insurance agent. A few years after, fulfilling his longing to be part of aerospace again, he worked for McDonnell-Douglas/Boeing in Lakewood, California, and then worked in the iconic Skunk Works at Lockheed, Palmdale, until he retired.

George and Opal moved to Joplin to return to the town where she was raised. After our mother passed, George was the caregiver to our Aunt Maude, who lived to be 104.

George survived the infamous large and devastating multiple-vortex EF5 tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri on the evening of Sunday, May 22, 2011, where it touched down merely 3 blocks away from where he lived. While we frantically tried to re-establish communication with him - 4 days later - he never realized how close the tornado came to his home.

George was always very astute politically and was aware of his surroundings. We had to evacuate when our neighborhood was attacked during the Los Angeles Watts Riots in 1963. We had to evacuate when the Sylmar Earthquake hit on February 9, 1971, as the Van Norman Lakes Dam was about to break. It was this “watch your back” awareness that rubbed off on his children, as we became heavily involved in community emergency preparedness.

George was a very religious and kind person. He was proud of being a member of the Cherokee Nation. He always tried to be the best person he could be, sharing his knowledge with others when the opportunities presented themselves. He was hooked on peanut butter and pineapple milkshakes, and he made an awesome plate of scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy.

George - Daddy - you are sorely missed by your family and friends. We thank God for every minute we got to be with you. We love you, and we will see you again when Jesus Christ returns.

Services will be announced soon.

Funeral arrangements are under the special care and direction of Parker Mortuary.