STEPHEN KING CRUSE, 62, passed away November 18, 2008. Born to John Loyal Cruse and Kyle Barnhill Cruse on July 26, 1946 in Winter Haven, Florida, he lived in San Benito, Texas, from 1947, until the family moved to Houston in 1959. He attended Hartman Junior High and graduated in 1964 from Jesse Jones High School. During childhood summers, he attended Camp Stewart for Boys in Hunt, Texas. Steve attended Southern Methodist University and the University of Houston. He is survived by his mother Kyle Harding and her friend Wynne Stewart; daughter Tracy and her husband MacDonald Ruffeno and their children; sister Linda and her husband Dan Duchemin; nieces: Kylynne Anderson, her husband Troy and their children, Dianne Helms and her daughter, Hope Gentry and Lauren Duchemin; and nephew Trey Hegar and his wife Sarah. He is preceded in death by his father John Cruse and uncle King Cruse and his wife Sylvia; and aunt Elizabeth and her husband Bob Hayes and their daughter Jean Muzzio. He also leaves behind many long-time friends and business associates, including his dedicated and caring business assistant Jacqui Brooks. Steve spent his life around aviation and most of his career in aviation parts. He was President of Cruse Aviation Parts, Inc., a continuation of Cruse Aviation, the Hobby Airport Cessna aircraft distributorship, and the earlier San Benito Flying Service, the business his uncle and father began in 1947. From age 5, he was an avid stamp collector and was a member of several stamp clubs. He enjoyed music, especially jazz. He was a pilot, a sports car aficionado and a Houston, Gulf Coast and early south Texas aviation history enthusiast. Steve enjoyed traveling the entire Gulf Coast and learning about the history and considered himself a "South Texas drifter." Steve strongly supported the preservation of the 1940 Air Terminal Museum at Hobby Airport and donated to the museum and other venues records and artifacts relating to the early history of aviation in South Texas. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Steve's memory to the 1940 Air Terminal Museum or the charity of the giver's choice, would be appreciated. Steve's family will visit with friends from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, December 5, 2008, at the 1940 Air Terminal Museum, 8325 Travelair Rd, Houston, Texas 77061 www.1940airterminal.org.

Posted in the Houston Chronicle November 28, 2008