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Willard C. 'Bill' Minton San Antonio, TX QCWA # 24911 |
Willard Choyse "Bill" Minton, 97, passed away on May 13 at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio. Mr. Minton was born May 28, 1914 in Wolfe City, TX, the son of William and Addie Evelyn Croft Minton.
A WWII veteran, Mr. Minton served in the U.S. Navy from 1939-1945 as a Radio Technician First Class. His career as a specialist in the field of Nondestructive Testing of engineering materials spanned 48 years, during which he designed, constructed and performed field applications of ultrasonic, magnetic particle, liquid penetrant and mechanical inspection instruments and equipment. After starting with Sperry Products in New Jersey and Connecticut in 1946, Mr. Minton developed the Thruray and Electric Detection for Tubes. At Sperry Western Co. in Houston he designed and built mobile inspection vans for oilfield equipment examinations. At Krautkramer Ultrasonics in Stratford, CT, Mr. Minton was responsible for adapting Europe's best-known ultrasonic instruments to the American market. His final job before retiring was at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, where he was a Senior Research Engineer, specializing in Nondestructive Testing. He was the author of many papers on various phases of the evaluation of materials, and conducted educational seminars at conferences throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Throughout his long career, Mr. Minton led field inspections teams at such diverse locations as the Sydney Opera House, many nuclear reactors, paper mills, turbine generators, and the Alaskan Pipeline. Among Mr. Minton's many interests, he was an amateur radio enthusiast, served as president of several Ham Radio clubs in the San Antonio area, and was an active member of the American Radio Relay League for more than 75 years. A member of San Pedro Presbyterian Church almost from its inception, Mr. Minton served on the Session and on the Building and Grounds committee for many years.
Mr. Minton is survived by his wife, Juanita Ruth Mings Minton; sons, Henry Minton of Shreveport, LA and Willard Minton of Barkhamsted, CT; daughter, Evelyn Sandlin of Hot Springs Village, AR; 6 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.