Jim was born on the Fourth of July 1926 in Kansas City, Missouri to Julian and Mary Stinson and graduated from Southeast High School. Jim was a veteran of the US Navy during WWII prior to earning a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Kansas in 1950 where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. An Eagle Scout, Jim was a Scoutmaster for Troop 117 as a young man and later for Troop 387. Jim worked as a civil engineer for over 40 years first with Howard-Needles-Tammen and Bergendoff then with George Butler Associates where he retired in 1991.
Among his many achievements, he was awarded the Boy Scout District Award of Merit, was President of the KC, MO Chapter of American Society of Civil Engineering and a member of the Kentucky Colonel's Sons of the American Revolution. Jim loved to travel and was a wonderful father, grandfather and husband.
He will be missed dearly by daughter Julie (Ron) Castor and their children Michelle, Rachel, Stacey, Chris and great grandson Warren; daughter Janet Buie and her children Brian, Karla and Kevin; son Jeff (Debbie) Stinson and their children Lisa and Mike; step-daughter Stacia (Kenny) Vetter; and step-son Doug (Sherry) Higgins and their children Zach and Abigail. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Julian and Mary Stinson; his first wife of 43 years, Kathryn Jo, the mother of his three children; and his wife of 22 years, Sandra, who passed in March 2018.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00am, Friday, May 25th at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri. Visitation at the funeral home will be from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Thursday, May 24th.
Memorial contributions, in Jim's name, may be made to Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church, 9300 Nall Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66207; (913) 642-9100; http://www.rollinghillskc.org/
