Jasper S. Solomon

Jasper Stewart “Sol” Solomon, 90, a 54-year resident of Thousand Oaks, California died peacefully at his home on Monday evening. He was born on April 12, 1920 near Lela, Texas to West Texas pioneers, John Franklin Solomon and Mabel Claire Newton. His Texas family called him “JS” but once he moved to California, everyone knew him as “Sol”. He graduated from high school in Estelline, Texas and attended McMurry College in Abilene, Texas. He learned to fly at 18 and at the start of WW II he was a flying instructor for the Air Corps first at Hicks Field near Fort Worth and then at Brady, Texas. In 1942, he was hired by Trans World Airline in Kansas City. During the next 38 years with TWA he accumulated over 25,000 hours flying the Douglas DC-3 and DC-4, Martin-404, the Lockheed “Connie”, the Convair-880, Boeing-707, and the Boeing-747. While flying with TWA, he had many exciting experiences but several he was most proud and always made an interesting and captivating story. As an investigator of the 1956 TWA/United Airlines mid-air collision over the Grand Canyon, he testified to a Congressional Committee about the findings. Also, he assisted in establishing Walt Disney’s flying operation, flew a 60-day around-the-world TWA charter, was a pilot in the Motion Picture Pilots Association (his airplanes stared in several movies), and attended the fourth wedding of Pancho Barnes at the Happy Bottom Riding Club near Lancaster, CA. In 1980, he retired as one of TWA’s most senior international -747 pilots and spent the next 30 years as a lively and busy retiree.

A short time after starting his airline career, he met Benora Angeline Hoff, an American Airlines hostess, and they were married on January 15, 1944. From this union came three children: Thomas (Wiletta) Solomon of Scottsdale, Arizona; John Solomon of Denver, Colorado; and, Peggy (Perry) Lamy. Following in the footsteps of their parents, his children were connected to aviation and flying; Tom and John had airline careers while Peggy served in the Air Force. He loved four grandsons: Douglas Solomon, Scott Solomon, Alex Lamy, and Nicholas Lamy; and, a great grand daughter, Eleanor Christine Lamy-Bearskin. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife; a sister, Cecile LaVerne Fields and her husband, John Wallace Fields, of Shamrock, Texas; and, a grand daughter, Christine Danielle Lamy.

Sol and Bonnie spent many summers in Crosslake, Minnesota near Bonnie’s childhood home and family. He loved the lakes, boating, fishing, golfing, and attending auctions with his wife. During the winter months in Thousand Oaks, he spent days tinkering and visiting with other flyers, military veterans, and airplane enthusiasts at Santa Paula airport where he owned a hangar. Always busy with some project he would never fret about time, and took solace in saying “it will be there tomorrow”. Sol watched TV football, car races, western movies, and the stock market report. He was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Ronald Reagan, and John Wayne. He and Bonnie were members of and attended Ascension Lutheran Church.

In his later years, he frequented several coffee groups every day. Sol was a master story teller and had numerous friends. He had countless stories about famous and interesting people who flew with him and about exotic locations and experiences from all over the world. No one ever got tired of hearing the tales and anecdotes, even the same story again. Throughout his life, Sol’s recollect and memory were impeccable.

He was a member of many organizations but his favorites were the SoCal Wing of the Commemorative Air Force; the Conejo Valley Model A Ford Club; Santa Paula Airport Association; and the California Republican Party.

Viewing will be held at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Cemetery, 5600 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake, from 9 - 11 AM Monday, January 10, 2011 followed by gravesite service at 11 AM.

A memorial service will be held at noon Monday, January 10, 2011 at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1600 East Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks with reception to follow at the church.

Arrangements are by Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park, Westlake Village, CA. You may visit www.pierce-brothers.com to sign the online guest register.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, 600 W 11th, Amarillo, Texas 79101 (www.calfarley.org); the Pioneer West Museum, 204 N Madden, Shamrock Texas 79079; or, the charity of your choice.