Stanley Arthur Vining of Springfield passed away after a long illness on February 8, 2011. He was a retired political science professor at Missouri State University. Mr. Vining, born on a farm in Wilsey (Morris County), Kansas on July 1, 1931, was the ninth of ten children of Bryant Oliver and Margaret Francetta Hinshaw Vining. Older siblings were Everett, Ethel, Charles, Alberta, Ladd, Bernice, Dean and John- all deceased. His youngest sister, Wilma Vivian Carter-Tippit, survives him- she is a resident of Plattsburg, Missouri. Twelve neices and nephews survive him. When he was ten, his family moved to Topeka, where Mr. Vining graduated from high school. He subsequently graduated from Washburn University in Topeka. Later, he received a Master's Degree in Political Science from The University of Kansas. From 1951-1955, Mr. Vining served in the U.S. Air Force as an intelligence officer. For much of this time he was in Libya, North Africa. After starting to teach at Southwest Missouri State College in 1957, he was awarded a Fullbright Fellowship. This enabled him to study Labor politics at the Australian National University in Canberra. He spent two years there. On his return to the United States, he resumed teaching at SMS. He taught courses on American government, public policy and comparative government, including Anglo-American systems. Professor Vining particularly enjoyed advising students and helped many of them, including those with medical problems, to finish their coursework. Mr. Vining also served for several years on the Springfield Planning and Zoning Board. He was active in support of the Democratic Party, his all-time hero being Franklin D. Roosevelt. Professor Vining strongly supported civil liberties and civil rights. Mr. Vining retired in June of 1996 from SMS and spent his last years at home where he gardened, kept up with current events and discussed politics with friends and family. Funeral services will be on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at Gorman-Scharpf on East Seminole. Burial will be in Maple Park Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri or the Salvation Army.
