John Stanfield

John Thomas Stanfield, born on July 31, 1937, in Cape Girardeau to John Buchanan and Lottie Thomas Stanfield, died Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Jackson, at the age of 80.

John had been living in Terre du Lac, Missouri, and Woodstock, New York.

He had a degree in physics, chemistry and mathematics from the University of Missouri-Columbia and worked in aerospace, defense and with NASA to help put a man on the moon and the first satellites in space.

As a boy, he chased the local alligator around a lake with a radio-controlled boat in Charleston, Missouri. He lived on a sailboat from 1978 until 1985 in New England. He studied magic and classical guitar and flew model airplanes. Later in life, he wrote about astronomy for the local newspaper and played golf in his retirement.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Stanfield; first wife, Carol Draper; his sister, Charlotte Stanfield; three children, Kim Valsamis, John A. Stanfield and Katherine Reisfeld; five grandchildren, Megan Swanson, Katlyn Sevian, Waverley Stanfield, John B. Stanfield and Ruth Reisfeld; and four great-grandchildren, Kaylee Swanson, Brayden Swanson, Athena Sevian and Ryan Sevian.

A service was held Wednesday at All Saints Episcopal Church in Farmington, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Forest Park Forever at www.forestparkforever.org/donations, Saint Louis Classical Guitar Society at www.guitarstlouis.net/node/135, the Saint Louis Art Museum at www.members.slam.org/, or the Saint Louis Zoo at www.stlouiszoo.org/give.

Cremation accorded by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.