

Jim Missman passed away peacefully in Huntington Beach, California on May 23, 2021, at the age of 96.
Jimmy was born on June 11, 1924 in Council, Idaho, the oldest son of Rolland Albert Missman Sr. and Almyra Josephine Garrett. Almyra died in 1935 when he was 11. His father later married Gertrude Cox. His younger brother was Alan (Skeeter) Fredrick Missman, and his half-sister was Carol Ann Missman. After graduation from high school and the Pearl Harbor attack, he worked as a laborer in Oahu to build bomb-proof underground fuel storage tankage to support the naval fleet. 18 months of digging tunnels was enough, so he enlisted in the army and served as a flight mechanic instructor. He met Bertha Juyne Spiegel at the Rose Jewelry Store in Decatur, Alabama. They were married in Hondo, Texas on June 25, 1945. They lived in Idaho, Oregon, California, New Mexico and Illinois before settling in southern California in 1959. Bertha passed away two years ago. They had been happily married for 74 years.
Jimmy had a long and interesting career as a physicist. He described what it was like to hold the plutonium core of a nuclear weapon. He was on the ground floor of the semiconductor revolution – He earned his PhD at University of Illinois under Dr. John Bardeen, the only person to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics twice – once for the invention of the transistor and another for his theory of superconductivity. He worked on the conceptual feasibility of Project Orion, a nuclear-powered spacecraft – it was feasible! Later in his career he designed integrated circuit boards for use in high-resolution photography from satellites, and satellite GPS navigation.
Jimmy and Bertha dedicated their lives to creating a loving and caring home for their six loving children: Rolland (Ray) Albert Missman III [PJ], Fredrick Martin Missman, Rebecca Lynn Missman Spyra [Edward], Kathleen Missman Van Twist [Frank], Kenneth Duane Missman [Jo], and Margaret Ann Missman [Steve]. Jimmy is survived by all his children and four grandchildren: Ryan Missman, David Missman, Teresa Spyra & Kayla Missman; and two great-grandchildren: Rankin Missman and Madeline Missman.
A Celebration of Life ceremony and reception will be held 1 – 5 p.m. Saturday, June 12 at Huntington Terrace, located at 18700 Florida St, Huntington Beach, California. Condolences may be expressed at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries Advantage Funeral and Cremation Services, Huntington Beach CA
Favorite saying: "It’s been many things but it ain't been dull"
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