Charles Lee Stanphill

Charles Lee Stanphill was born January 12, 1932 in Abbott, Texas and died on April 20, 2016 in Stephenville, Texas. Dr. & Mrs. F.D. Sims, family friends of his parents, presided at his birth. His father, James Stanphill, owned and operated a grocery store with his mother, Dorothy Summerhill’s assistance. Shortly after his birth, Charles’ father lost his grocery store due to economic difficulties from The Depression. The family then moved to a 200 acre portion of the Stanphill farm west of Abbott. Charles grew up near Abbott, and attended the local school, which required a half mile walk down a dirt road with his older sister, Jim Ann, in order to catch the school bus. In bad weather, his father would saddle one of the family’s mares, Molly, for them to ride. The horse would return home on her own in the morning, and would be led back in the afternoon by Charles’ father. In very poor weather, his father would drive the family car to the bust stop. Charles Stanphill graduated Abbott High School in 1949, just at the end of World War II. He attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville for two years before transferring to Texas A&M in College Station. He graduated in 1953 with an Engineering Degree. During this same period, he obtained a Second Lieutenant’s Commission in the Air Force. Upon graduation, he taught high school in Houston for a year, followed by two years employment for the Air Force in Armament and Electronic Maintenance. He also married Elizabeth Hamilton in 1954 in Hillsboro, Texas. He then taught at a high school in Pasadena, Texas for a year before finding a job with the Chance Vought Aircraft Company in Dallas. The company would eventually become today’s Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. Working under the general title of Electric and Cost Engineer, Charles contributed to the development of the F8 Navy Fighters, DC10 Transporters, A7 Navy Aircraft, and a host of civilian aircraft through subcontracts. Additionally, he worked substantially on the Space Shuttles used by NASA and on a number of their earlier space missiles. Mr. Stanphill retired from Lockheed Martin after over 20 years upon being offered a retirement package. He then concentrated on rental properties in the residential real estate market. He is survived by his daughters Sharon Beck and Dorothy Doyle; and son David Stanphill, in addition to his seven grandchildren.

Charles Lee Stanphill

January 12, 1932 - April 20, 2016