James Stump

(James) Warren Stump of St. Charles, Mo, died on February 11. He was 90. He was born on First Street in Hartford, Ill, Jan 31, 1934, a mile from the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. He graduated Wood River High School, Wood River, Ill, 1951; University of Missouri at Rolla (School of Mines and Engineering), BS Chemical Engineering, 1955. 

He retired from Monsanto as Manager of Fibers Process Engineering in 1993 where he built chemical plants that made intermediates and synthetic fibers. These were used for carpet, JC Penny socks, Elura wigs, and many of the 60/40 blends of fabric that became popular in this generation. He also served as a charter member of Monsanto's Acrylic Product Board, a position he greatly enjoyed, as he was able to see the larger picture of how his product would be used. He was a registered Professional Engineer. He was active in the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers. 

He began his Monsanto career in Decatur, AL in 1965, doing Process Design and Evaluation for the Textile Company Engineering Department. He joined CED in St. Louis in 1967 and did Economic Evaluation and AR Economic for two years. He became Process Design Superintendent for Acrilan in 1969. He modified and expanded plants in the US and three countries overseas: Northern Ireland, Germany, Israel. 

Ten years later, in 1977, he went to Pensacola, FL where he became manager of Project Development for Nylon Intermediate. Here, he simplified an intermediate chemical process thereby reducing project capital costs by $1 million and reduced process operating costs by $1 million. 

In 1983 he transferred back to St. Louis where he became manager of Process Design for Textile Intermediate. He took early retirement in 1993. He went on to build a chemical plant for Jost Chemical in north St. Louis County and then became Head of School for Faith Christian School in Florissant, Mo. 

He began playing tennis in high school and played at a competitive level thanks to a double handed backhand. He played tennis intramurals at Rolla for two years. In 1984 he joined St. James Courts (now Vetta Racquet Sports West) in St. Peters, MO. He played until March 2012 when back surgery sidelined him. 

He coached Khourey League baseball, Parkway basketball, and ran for school board in the Pattonville District where he served on curriculum committees. 

He taught adult Sunday School at Faith Baptist Church in Bridgeton for ten years. He and his wife, Alice, hosted class parties at Christmas and an annual croquet tournament in the summer. 

When he moved back to St. Louis, he took up orienteering and running. He placed first in his age group (60-99) in the Pere Marquette Endurance Trail Run with a time of 1:20:51 on Saturday, Dec 10, 1994. The course is 7.3 miles and known nationally for its difficulty. This event and drew 440 participants. 

He enjoyed annual vacations to the Rockies and Glacier Nat Park. He backpacked and day hiked. He hiked Long's Peak three times, once over the age of 50. 

Every morning he read his Bible and ate a bowl of Raisin Bran heaped with fresh fruit he had picked from Wind Ridge Farms in New Melle, Mo. His favorite verses were Psalm 119:9 “ Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” and Isaiah 6:1-3 “…Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 

He is survived by his son, Mark (Connie), and daughter, Kathleen (Edward), and five grandchildren. 

Memorial gifts may be made to Righteous Rides (cars to missionaries on home assignment). Righteousrides.org/donate or 1440East Veterans Memorial Parkway, Truesdale, MO 63380