Lt. James S. Jones, Jr., USAF (Ret)

Lt. Colonel James Sompayrac Jones, Jr., USAF (Ret), died on April 12, 2011 in Tyler, Texas at the age of 89. He was born November 27, 1921 in Campti, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana to the late Sompayrac and Nonie Oliver Jones. His daughters, Patricia Jones Thyssen and Jeanie Jones Kruyer, along with his brother, Walter (Dub) Jones, preceded Jim in death. Col. Jones is survived by Georgia, his wife of 68 years, sons in law, William B. Kruyer of San Antonio and Allen R. Thyssen of Tyler, granddaughter, Teri Kruyer Wesson and husband, Steven of Burleson; grandson David Kruyer of San Antonio, granddaughter Julie Thyssen Cheshier and husband Jefferson Cheshier of Lakeway, three great grandchildren, and sister Elaine Jones Cox of Bay City, Texas. Jim attended Louisiana State Normal College prior to enlisting in the Army Air Corps in October 1941, having already earned a private pilot’s license. He took pilot training at Hicks Field, Texas; Randolph Field in San Antonio, and Lubbock, Texas, receiving his wings and commission on May 20, 1942. Following graduation he married Georgia L. Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George M. Johnson of Forest Hill, Louisiana. They traveled to Kelly Field, the first of several assignments piloting navigator cadets or officer returnees. Upon completion of B-17 transition training he was transferred to Biloxi, Mississippi to active and prepare a rescue flight (Squadron) of two B-17’s carrying boats and 3 PBY amphibians for further transfer to New Guinea. The war ended before the overseas transfer took place. Following several Rescue Flight (Squadron) commands he was transferred to Nagoya, Japan as the rescue liaison officer to 5th Air Force Headquarters. Rotation brought him to the Air Rescue Service headquarters in Washington, D.C. Transferred once again found him in route to Burtonwood AFB, England to activate, command and ultimately inactivate a Rescue Squadron of SA 16’s (amphibians) and helicopters. Malstrom AFB, Great Falls, Montana was the next states side assignment and it enabled him to participate in two of his favorite pastimes, rainbow trout fishing and big game hunting. He earned an MS Degree in counseling while assigned to a ROTC unit in Ruston, Louisiana. A series of assignments to the Air Rescue Center, Ramstein AFB Germany and Air Rescue Service Headquarters followed prior to retirement in December 1969 after 28 years of military service. Following retirement from the Air Force, Jim became the High School Counselor at Ruston High School and subsequently retired (again) from the Lincoln Parish School System. In June 1990 Jim and Georgia moved to an officers’ retirement community, Air Force Village, in San Antonio where they resided until coming to Tyler in January 2011. He was a member of Glenwood Church of Christ in Tyler. Jim was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Glenwood Church of Christ, 5210 Hollytree Drive, in Tyler, Texas. Visitation is scheduled for 1:00 PM, one hour prior to the service. Private interment will be at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio. Arrangements are under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler, Texas.

Lt. James S. Jones, Jr., USAF (Ret)

November 27, 1921 - April 12, 2011