Stuart C. Millsapps, Jr., loving father and husband, flew to the heavens early this past Sunday morning. Born in Palestine, Texas, Mr. Millsapps grew up in Houston where he developed an early interest in flight. He competed in model airplane contests beginning in 1932, and began flight lessons on South Main Street in 1936 or 1937.

Mr. Millsapps graduated from Schreiner Junior College in Kerrville in 1939. He graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1941, and began an over 40 year career with Hughes Tool Company in Houston. Mr. Millsapps went on to earn a Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering Degree (1952), and a Master of Mechanical Engineering Degree in 1967.

During World War II, Mr. Millsapps served in the Army Air Corps, earning the rank of 1st Lieutenant and finishing his training program in P-40 fighter aircraft. During his career with Hughes Tool Company and afterward, Mr. Millsapps accumulated 8 patents in Oil Well Drilling Bits and Earth Boring (mining) Bits. Mr. Millsapps was a master oil well drilling bit designer and continued designing bits well after his retirement from Hughes Tool Company. Mr. Millsapps worked on many interesting projects at Hughes, including the design -in secret- of a giant claw lifting apparatus engineered to retrieve the sunken Russian submarine K-129. Project Jennifer, as it was known then, used the Hughes drilling ship Glomar Explorer to hide the lifting apparatus under the water.

Mr. Millsapps is survived by his wife Sibyl Millsapps, and his son Stuart C. Millsapps, III.

Visitation at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, Austin, TX 78705 Tuesday, September 4th, from 7-8:30PM. Graveside service at Hollywood Cemetery, 3506 N. Main Street, Houston, TX 77009, 11:00AM Thursday, September 6th.