James R. Gamble Lt. Col. Jr. Ret.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Fern, his mother and father and two sisters. He is survived by his son Ronald and his wife Linda, daughter Diane and son Michael and his wife Susan Meader; grandchildren, Kristen and husband Greg Rea, Amanda and husband Chuck Keyworth, Seth, Larissa and Audrey Gamble; great-granddaughters, Renae and Sydney Rea; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was a navigator on a B-24 Liberator in WWII, shot down, and interned as a POW in Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Poland. He received his BS from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and his MSW from Tulane University in New Orleans. The US Air Force recalled him to active duty in 1951, where he served in various military hospitals around the world until his retirement in 1969.

After retiring from the military, he began his second career as an Executive Director of the San Antonio Family Services Association. He was an active member of the Directors Staff of the Alzafar Shrine. He served on the board of the 467th BG Heavy and traveled yearly to their annual reunions, the last one being in 2010 in Rackhealth, England.

He became inspired to write a book based on his War Time logs - written while a POW. His book, Innocents Abroad, was published in January of 2010 on the eve of his 91st year. At peace with himself, he closed his book with the words, "I am happy with my life and I treasure each day. I know each day is a gift that was paid for in part by the sacrifice of seven of the crew members who died on August 6, 1944."

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Methodist Hospital for the loving care they gave him while there, and CIMA for the gracious care he received at home. Family will receive friends on Thursday, May 12, 2011, 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

SERVICE

FRIDAY, May 13, 2011

11:00 A.M.

OAK HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

6739 CALLAGHAN ROAD

Rev. Katheryn Barlow Williams will officiate. Interment with Full Military Honors in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery on Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice in honor of Lt. Col. James R. Gamble Jr.