Cecil Frank Scantlin

Cecil Frank Scantlin entered the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, peacefully at the age of 86, surrounded by his wife and children at 4:30 p.m. on July 1, 2026, in Houston, Texas. He was born on June 11, 1940, in Jack Ass Flats, just outside Mason, Texas. Frank spent his early years working on highway crews before moving to oil rig crews. He later attended San Jacinto Community College, where he studied to become a machinist. Through hard work, determination, and skill, he became a skilled tool and die maker then a mold maker and eventually founded Sunbelt Machine Works that grew to become one of the largest family owned machine shops in Texas. Frank was a devoted family man and an avid outdoorsman with a larger-than-life personality and a kind, generous heart. He loved his children deeply and was always willing to help friends and family whenever they needed him. Frank was a lifelong learner with an insatiable curiosity and a rare ability to master new skills. He could repair almost anything, from classic cars and irrigation systems to household projects and repairs. He found great satisfaction in solving problems with his own hands. Although God's favor rested on his business pursuits, success gave Frank opportunities, but it never changed his character. He never lost the humility and work ethic that defined his life and left a lasting example for his family to follow. He believed no honest work was beneath him and took great pride in doing things the right way. Whether in his business, his home, or with his family, Frank believed that anything worth doing was worth doing well. His greatest hobby was classic cars and attending car shows. Over the years, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by purchasing and restoring the very cars he had admired as a boy. Later in life, Frank placed his faith in Jesus Christ and became a Christian. While he was grateful for the life God allowed him to live, his greatest hope was not found in the business he built or the cars he restored, but in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. His family finds great comfort in the promise that his earthly journey has ended and that he is now in the presence of his Savior. As the Apostle Paul wrote, "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8. Frank is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Mary Scantlin; his children, Craig Scantlin, Tammy Erskine and her husband, Blake C. Erskine, Jr. and Brent Scantlin and his wife, Tara; his grandchildren, Chris Scantlin, Amanda Scantlin, Sean Scantlin, Sophia Erskine, Olivia Erskine, and Asher Scantlin; and his great-grandchildren, Gage Scantlin and Autumn Scantlin. He was preceded in death by his father, Cecil William Scantlin; his mother, Hattie May Scantlin; and his sisters, Betty May Merkel and Carolyn Rhodes. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those wishing to honor Frank's memory consider making a donation to: a Christian food bank of their choice, the food bank in Israel through Netivyah (www.netivyah.com), or Shriners Children’s Hospital (https://www.shrinerschildrens.org).

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Cecil Frank Scantlin

June 11, 1940 - July 1, 2026