John F. J. Stinson, 80, a retired Navy commander who was a highway safety data specialist at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 1970 to 1981, died of respiratory failure December 2, 1999 at Martin Memorial Medical Center in Stuart, Florida. He lived in McLean 34 years before moving to Stuart in 1996.

Commander Stinson was born in Philadelphia and joined the Navy in 1941. He served in the Caribbean, North Africa and Italy during World War II and retired in 1966. His last posting was with the old Naval Command Systems Support Activity.

In the late 1960s, Commander. Stinson was an engineer at Vitro Corporation in Silver Spring, Maryland.

He graduated from the University of Maryland in 1966 with a degree in business administration.

He was a past member of St. John's Catholic Church in McLean.

His wife of 48 years, Nell Lloyd Stinson, died in 1994.

Survivors include three sons, John Jr., of Chevy Chase, George L., of Tallahassee, and Daniel R., of Jensen Beach, Fla.; a daughter, Elizabeth A. Stinson of Carbondale, Colo.; a brother; a sister; and five grandchildren.

On Thursday, December 2, 1999, of Stuart, FL, formerly of McLean, VA, beloved husband of the late Nell Lloyd Stinson; loving father of John F. Stinson, Jr., George L. Stinson, Daniel R. Stinson and Elizabeth A. Stinson; brother of Harold and Joan. He is also survived by five grandchildren. A Mass Of Christian Burial will be offered Tuesday, 11 a.m., at The Shrine Of The Most Blessed Sacrament, 6001 Western Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Interment, Arlington National Cemetery, with full military honors, at 3 p.m. Friends should gather at the Administration Building at 2:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Northern Virginia, P.O. Box 922, Falls Church, VA 22040-0922.