Roll Call Tribute

Sheldon Milam Kindall
October 16, 1932 - June 6th, 2021

Sheldon Milam Kindall , 88, of El Lago, passed away peacefully at home on June 6th, 2021. Born in Cheyenne, Wyoming on October 16, 1932, Sheldon was the son of the late Colonel Sylvian Kindall and Evelyn (Harper) Kindall Roop. Sheldon was predeceased by his first wife, Betty (Peters) Kindall with whom he shared 45 years of marriage and his second wife, Jean (Epperson) Kindall, with whom he shared 3 years of marriage.

Sheldon was the loving father of Vernon Kindall, husband of Oweitta Kindall, of Flower Mound, Texas; Elizabeth Hoyle, wife of Marc Hoyle of Alsace Township, Pennsylvania; and Janet Miller, wife of Jon Miller of Medina, Texas. Sheldon was affectionately known as Pa-Pa to his grandchildren; Amber Whitacre Howlin, Isaac Hoyle, husband of Casi Hoyle, and Kathryn Hoyle.

Sheldon obtained a BS degree in Physics from Texas A&M University, and his Masters of Physics from Louisiana State University. He taught at Texas A&M University for several years before doing research for the United States Air Force in Tullahoma, Tennessee. The last 30 years of his employment he worked in the US space program in Clear Lake City, Texas; first for TRW, then Rockwell International, and finally for Boeing.

Sheldon was among the group of men who designed the navigational device for the Apollo spacecraft; he also worked in the Navigational and Analysis Department of TRW during all the Apollo missions. Sheldon was the first to map the far side of the Moon using photographs taken from astronauts who orbited the Moon.

Sheldon was interested in a variety of hobbies over his lifetime from rock collecting to scuba diving. What captured his attention most though was his work with the Texas Archeological Society, investing his time in amateur archeological digs across Texas with many other lovers of the discipline. Sheldon was the last living member of the original ten of the TASN (Texas Archeological Steward Commission)

In his retirement years he and Jean studied the history of various places in Texas, establishing a number of historical markers in the state, one being in Seabrook, Texas near where he lived. Sheldon will be interned at Mo Ranch in Hunt, Texas. Services will be private at the convenience of the family.

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Published by The Beaumont Enterprise from Jun. 30 to Jul. 1, 2021.