Byron Skinner
January 8, 1944 - January 21, 2021
Byron Skinner had a 3-week battle with COVID-19 in the hospital. He was getting better and about to go home. Then suddenly his heart stopped and could not be revived. May his spirit live forever in the presence of his Creator.
On Saturday Feb 27, 2021, at 12:00 MST -- a Memorial Service will be scheduled online through the Unitarian Universalist Church
If you wish to give a Memorial gift -- you may do that to the cause of your choice.
Byron believed in the work of the International Dark-Sky Association -- to reduce light pollution.
Byron was born in Chicago to Rex Skinner and Ida (Livingston) Skinner. Byron and his mom had a special bond early on, as his father was gone as an instructor for troops in WW II. At the age of 4, Byron’s family with his newborn sister Diana, drove across the USA (before interstates) to California. Little brother Jimmy was born a few years later in Los Angeles. Byron’s father was a Social Worker with the VA. Even though his mother had a college degree, she chose to be a stay-at-home mom while her children were young.
In 7th Grade Electric Shop, Byron found one of his many life passions. He soon was the Electric Shop instructor’s student-aid and even began coaching his 6-year-old brother in electronics! This was a basis for his lifelong fascination with all things Science, Electronics, and teaching others about these things.
Soon young Byron discovered how interesting the stars were and built his own reflector telescope. About the same time Byron convinced his father to let him build an H O train set on a 4x8 ft sheet of plywood and suspend it from the garage ceiling where it could be hoisted up when not in use. As a teen Byron also began collecting old National Geographic magazines. He soon had a serious collection which he continued to expand throughout his whole life along with his unique book collection. Byron’s favorite films were silent. He was enamored by projector equipment and enjoyed discussing them with the owner at the local silent film theater. As he grew, his father taught him car maintenance and other practical mechanical skills.
Byron followed his mother’s interest in Classical music. While other kids were into the latest Rock and Roll hits, Byron would listen to the LA classical stations and learn about pipe organs! He played trumpet in school and still has the instrument.
Byron was unwavering in his interests for all these subjects his entire life. After graduating High School, Byron spent a summer on his grandfather’s farm near Claremont New Hampshire, which was a big departure from Los Angeles living. The experience impacted him and trained him in many practical skills. He also spent several summers as a camp counselor at Pilgrim Pines in California.
Byron studied Electrical Engineering at Cal-Poly. He joined the US Air Force where he received additional electronics training and invaluable work experience before completing his degree. His tour in Turkey gave him a desire for international travel. Byron was in his 20’s when he secured an electronics engineering job with Hughes Aircraft where he stayed for almost 30 years. As part of this job he got to travel on several of the US Navy Aircraft Carriers as an engineer maintaining jet guidance systems. Byron always enjoyed interacting with the sailors. He taught them electronics and astronomy, and he even let them play video games on his early model computer.
Byron loved to swap travel stories with his sister Diana who also had the travel bug. His travel stories were always a joy to hear.
Byron was able to retire at age 55 from Hughes/Raytheon in Tucson Arizona. While he had always been involved in his hobbies, retirement allowed him to make them his fulltime focus. He was active in the Astronomy Club, Dark Skies Society, Train Club, was an avid coin collector, AMSOIL dealer, woodworker and took on leadership roles at his church! He did handyman work throughout the community and house management for people when they were out of town. On top of all that, for 15 years he spent a week every month at his parents’ house in LA helping them end strong. He lived life to its fullest!
Perhaps the most outstanding characteristic of Byron Skinner was his interest in people, especially the young. He performed an uncountable number of star parties. For many years, he set up a telescope in front of his parents’ home in LA on Halloween night,
giving out candy and inviting kids to have a look at the moon or whatever was out. Byron encouraged young people at the Astronomy Club; he showed train displays to children and invited them to run the trains; he embraced the opportunity to be a judge for school science fairs in his community. In all these opportunities, he would explain, teach, and answer questions in a patient, gentle way. Even though Byron never had any children of his own, he saw every young person as our future. He wanted to help young and old alike to understand the sciences as fun and interesting topics. Byron absolutely loved to tell stories and was one of the kindest people you would ever want to meet.
He has left many friends and family behind. Byron was proceeded in death by his father Rex and mother Ida (Livingston); his sister Diana (Skinner) Wagner. Survived by his brother Jim and Becky Skinner near Omaha, NE; nephew Nate and Tina Skinner of Green River, WY with children Lincoln, Jonas and Graham; niece Kari (Skinner) and Clinton Hughes of Kansas City, MO; brother-in-law Skip Wagner of Reno, NV; nephew Cody and Valerie Wagner of Fernley, NV with child Reece; nephew Will and Jen Wagner of Sacramento, CA with children Alyssa and Owen; niece Amy Wagner of Chicago, IL; also, umpteen cousins.
He will be greatly missed by us all; he was everybody’s big brother or uncle. May he forever be an inspiration to all who knew him. Surely, the world is a better place because of the dedicated life of Byron Skinner, a man well loved.