An engaging conversation always at hand — Dick Hinshaw found interest in people, sports, current affairs, local history, and the space industry. On December 8, 2023, the conversation was silenced by the gift of eternal peace when Dick passed away in Tifton, Georgia when at 86, the failings of advanced age took their course.
Born in Pasadena, California on June 19, 1937, Richard Lee Hinshaw thrived in the dynamic environment of southern California in the forties and fifties. He was involved in sports from a young age and played on the elite Pasadena youth baseball team, part of the Town Travel League in the days before organized youth baseball programs. A true baseball fan, he memorized statistics of all the players scouring the St. Louis Sporting News for the latest numbers. During 1949 spring training at Brookside Park next to the Rose Bowl, he watched the White Sox play seeing hall of fame player “Old Aches and Pains,” Lou Appling, and many others. Dick played basketball from the sand lots as a boy to the industrial leagues where every company had a team. Many accomplished players of that time dribbled the courts at Nazarene College gym, and as a backup player, Dick engaged in conversation with many of them.
He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 39 years, Mary Beth Hinshaw of Tifton and three children, 8 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and four greatgreat grandchildren. Of Tifton, Georgia is daughter Cambria Dix (Daniel) and granddaughter Ella Grace Dix who kept the shadows of declining health away and filled Pop Pop with joy and laughter in his latter days. Of White Plains, Georgia is daughter Sue Bussey (Sid), their two daughters, Maria Pope and Brandy Bussey, and son Johnnie Bussey. Descendants through Maria are Drew Pope, Drake Pope, and Delaney Gilliam (Ryder). Descendants through Brandy are Jaylin Ellis; Presley Ellis; Sydney Nunez (Josue) and children, Everly Clair Nunez and Enzo Nunez; Leah Merrell (Alex) and children, Kaydence Merrell and Eason Merrell. Descendants through Johnnie are Audrie Grissun (Adam), Savannah Bussey and Payton Bussey. Of Titusville, Florida is daughter Debbie Hensley (deceased), her son Colby Hensley, daughter Melissa Hensley and Melissa’s daughter Ayrabella Hensley. Of Rockledge, Florida is son Michael Hinshaw. Of Las Vegas, Nevada is son Richard Hinshaw (deceased) and his children Brittini Hinshaw and Richard “Bud” Hinshaw (deceased).
Dick was the son of Harold Richard “Bud” Hinshaw and Ellen Mae Surber Hinshaw. He had two brothers, Kenneth Linley Hinshaw (Margaret) of Pacific Grove, California, and James Corwin Hinshaw (deceased) of Las Vegas, Nevada.
A veteran of 40 years in the space industry, Dick worked more than sixty Titan rocket launches as an aerospace safety engineer. From the budding days of the rocket industry in California in the 1950’s to Colorado and then Florida in the 1960’s, Dick moved from technician to safety engineer when that profession first began. He retired after more than 30 years with Lockheed Martin as manager of safety for all Martin Marietta programs at Cape Canaveral highlighted by the Titan and Atlas rocket programs. His career also included two years with Bendix and four years with Grumman on the lunar module during the Apollo program.
A long-time golfer, Dick was a past member of both Royal Oak and La Cita Country Clubs in Titusville, Florida. He was president of Mims, Florida Little League in 1973 when it is was the third largest Little League in the world.
Dick always spoke warmly of those in Tifton who so welcomed this old golfer and rocket man to the distinctive land of southern Georgia; the Round Table at Mi-Lady Bakery, Forest Lakes Golf Club, and the Searchers Class at the First United Methodist Church.
Dick’s funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Chip Grantham officiating. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen- Donaldson Home for Funerals. Interment will be at Lathrop Cemetery in Lathrop, Missouri, north of Kansas City.