James Merrell McMillion passed peacefully into the arms of God with his wife by his side, at Huntsville Hospital on October 20th, following a long illness. Jim was better known as “Papa Jim” to his family and close friends and “Big Mac” to many of his NASA friends. He was preceded in death by his brother, Timothy Dean McMillion, his parents, Merrell James and Ellen Josephine McMillion, of Princeton, West Virginia.
Jim is survived by his wife of 59 years, Patricia Therese Madar McMillion of Huntsville; son, Dr. David Allan McMillion (Amanda); his daughter, Cynthia Lynn Owen (Matthew) of Littleton, Colorado; his sisters, Freda Farmer (Buddy) of Corryton, Tennessee, and Denise McMillion of Princeton, West Virginia; five adored grandchildren; Caleb James McMillion, Samuel John McMillion, and Rachel Catherine McMillion of Huntsville, Tyler John Owen, and Everly Brooklyn Owen, of Littleton, Colorado; nieces, Ryan McMillion of Brooklyn, Michigan, and Kristin Hurt, of Corryton, Tennessee; and nephew, Brian Barlow (April) of Princeton.
Jim graduated from Princeton High School in Princeton, West Virginia, in 1963. After a year at Bluefield College in West Virginia, Jim attended Virginia Tech where he earned his E.E. degree. As a co-op he was chosen to work with NASA in Huntsville. Jim began his NASA career in the Astrionics Lab and rose to become the Director of Science and Engineering at Marshall Space Flight Center. Jim was a natural leader and gifted engineer. While at Marshall Space Flight Center, he worked on many projects including the Saturn, Skylab, Spacelab, Space Shuttle, and The Hubble Space Telescope. He received numerous awards and accolades, but was a humble man who didn’t mention his many accomplishments.
He was known for being a fair, honest, conscientious, hard-working gentleman in all his interpersonal relationships. His family will always remember seeing him on his favorite spot at the end of the couch, legs crossed with his young grandkids snuggled up with him while watching either NASCAR, The Game Show Network, or one of his favorite shows such as JAG, NCIS, or Castle. He loved his mother’s home-made gravy, Corvettes (with chrome bumpers), and his many kitty cats.
A Celebration of Jim’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on November 9th, at Monte Sano United Methodist Church, followed by a potluck luncheon in the Fellowship Hall.
Mr. McMillion’s cremains will be sprinkled in the church gardens at a later date.
Donations in Jim’s memory may be given to the Music or Children’s Programs at Monte Sano United Methodist Church, 601 Monte Sano Blvd. Huntsville, Alabama 35801, Hospice Family Care, 10000 Serenity Lane, Huntsville, Alabama 35803, or a charity of your choice.
The family thanks the many doctors, nurses, and aids who took such good care of Jim the last two years, especially those at Centerwell Home Health, HH Hospice Family Care, and Huntsville Hospital. Special thanks to loving home caretakers, Betsy Kephart, Zoe Mitchell, and Mary Katherine Simpson.
