Milton Hanks

Milton Hanks passed from this life to his eternal home with his Lord and Savior on March 5, 2019. Milton was born September 5, 1938 in San Augustine County, Texas to Hazel and Jack Hanks and was known by his East Texas family as “Scuttler.” Milton graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Applied Science and Sam Houston State University with a Master of Education. His career started at the City of Houston, surveying many of the major thoroughfares throughout the city and laying out the Mecom Fountain at the Warwick Hotel. He also traveled to India for the State Department to teach Indian teachers how to teach. He has been a Registered Professional Land Surveyor in the state of Texas for over 50 years. In 1966, he began buying and selling surveying equipment in the garage of his home and it was from this hobby that he began his business, Bayshore Surveying Instrument Company. The company has been successful for over 52 years and continues to operate with his daughter at the helm.

Milton was well known around the country for his optical alignment expertise and traveled extensively aligning equipment for the petro-chemical industry and paper mills. His expertise was crucial in the alignment of skids for off-shore oil platforms and performing precision machining for the front of the space shuttle radio transmitter. During this time, he was one of the founding faculty members for San Jacinto College and went on to teach at Rice University for over 20 years. Milton was a member of the Texas Surveyors Association, Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying, American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, and the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. He was also a Master Mason of the Pasadena Lodge No. 1155 for over 50 years. He was a long-time member of First Baptist Church of Deer Park. Milton received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Foundation, was a charter member of the William Booth Society for the Salvation Army and received the Mary Cowart “Doing the Most Good” Award from the Salvation Army. He had a love for education sponsoring the education of countless young people and believed in giving back to the community by generously supporting numerous charitable organizations. He deeply enjoyed fishing, hunting, and talking on the phone. He had a deep love of the North Carolina mountains and enjoyed traveling to Plum Island, Massachusetts.

He was preceded in death by his parents and infant daughter Mona Danette. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joan of Deer Park, daughter Anna of Austin, brother Wayne Hanks and wife Susan of Houston, brother Norman Hanks and wife Diane of Houston, one aunt, twelve cousins, two nieces, three nephews, eleven grand-nieces and nephews and one grand-dog.

The family will receive friends at Grand View Funeral Home, 8501 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena, TX on Saturday, March 9th from 12:00pm to 2:00pm. A Celebration of Life Service will begin at 2:00pm followed by Committal Service at Grand View Cemetery. Donations can be made to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, the Shriners Hospital for Children or the charity of your choice to continue the legacy of Milton’s commitment to helping others.