James LeVerne Smith, Lt. Col. U.S. Air Force (Retired)

Jim is survived and deeply missed by his wife of 62 years, Molly (née McElroy), his daughters, Sydney Smith-Marlowe (David) and Aimee Jones (Randy), his grandchildren, Ansley Hulbert, Hannah Kate Brown (Garrett), Owen Jones, Miles Jones, his great granddaughter, Marlee Brown, and his many nieces and nephews. ‍Jim is preceded in death by his parents, William Henry Owen and Hester Smith, his sisters, Effie Middleton and Carolyn Lewis, and his brother, William Reginald “Bo” Smith.

Jim (or Verne, as he was called in his youth) was born on the family farm near Hickox, Georgia, on January 22, 1931, and grew up in Nahunta, Georgia. After graduating from Nahunta High School in 1947, he attended Georgia Southwestern College and South Georgia College, and in 1976, graduated cum laude with a B. S. in Business Management from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California.

He met Molly Ann McElroy, a Pan American Airways stewardess and they were married in the Chapel at Homestead AFB, Florida on May 4, 1963. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Jim was the quintessential family man. Nothing gave him more pleasure than supporting his two girls, and then their children, at their many sports activities; or lending his handyman skills to innumerable home projects. He was equally helpful and generous to his close friends and his fellow Airmen.

Jim became the family historian, compiling extensive genealogy records. His ability to recount the myriad stories of his life and his ancestors was impressive. He loved history in general, but especially military history. Jim was a true patriot who loved his country deeply.

After enlisting in the United States Air Force on January 4, 1951, Jim received his Aeronautical Rating of Pilot on June 1, 1953. He traveled extensively—to all seven continents—during his service and military career. Assignments included Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Libya. He was qualified in the North American T-6G, T-28A, F-86A, E and F; Republic F-84G; Grumman SA-16A and B, also known as the Albatross; Lockheed T-33A, F-80A, B and C, C-130E, and C-141A and B aircraft.

He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on May 1, 1953, after completing basic training and technical training as a RADAR Operator. He was assigned to Suwon (K-13), Korea, in April 1954, and then Chitose AB, Japan in July 1954. There, he flew the Republic F-84G—the only fighter aircraft in the Far East that was capable of carrying atomic weapons.

He moved to Miami, Florida, and joined an Air Force Reserve Rescue Squadron. He was promoted to Captain in the Air Force Reserve in 1962, and then was assigned to an Air Rescue Squadron at Eglin AFB, Florida.

In November, 1964, he was sent to Korat RTAFB, Thailand, and then was assigned to Wheelus AB in Tripoli, Libya. The family accompanied him to Wheelus, but in June, 1967, they were evacuated to the United States during the Israeli-Arab Six-day War. Later that year, Jim was assigned to Travis AFB, California, to fly the four-engine, Lockheed C-141A Starlifter jet transport. He was promoted to Major and selected for a Regular Air Force commission in 1969. In this tour, he advanced to Squadron Standardization Pilot.

In January, 1971, Jim departed Travis AFB for training in the Lockheed C-130E and was assigned to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, as Wing C-130 Aircrew Standardization Officer. He returned to Travis AFB in January, 1992, for duty as Assistant Operations Officer and Squadron Standardization Officer. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1976, and was assigned to the Wing Standardization Office as Chief C-141 Pilot.

In 1978, he moved to Robins AFB, Georgia, to be Chief, Flight Test Branch and Chief C-141 Test Pilot. His follow-on assignment in January, 1985, was to Charleston AFB, South Carolina. He retired at Charleston in November, 1986 with 29 and a half years active duty and 11,748 flying hours.

After his retirement from service, Jim became a certified HVAC instructor in Perry, Georgia, where the family has made their home since 1978.

A full military service will be held on Thursday, July 17, at 2:00 pm at Andersonville National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jim’s memory may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, https:/vfw.org/.