James Robert O'Donnel Sr.

JAMES R. O'DONNEL was called to heaven on November 16, 2016. Mr. O’Donnel was born in Pennsylvania on March 25, 1921, to Estella Schultze and Wayne E. O’Donnel, both originally from Reynoldsville, PA. He grew up in Donora, Pennsylvania, and after graduating from high school during the depression, went to work in the steel mills. When the U.S. entered World War II, he enlisted in the army air corps. Serving as a navigator aboard a Superfortress, he participated in the first B-29 raid over Tokyo on November 24, 1944. The story of the eleven men in his crew (#25) was chronicled in a book published in 1984 by Chester Marshall, Sky Giants Over Japan. The book was used as source material at West Point, and in the year 2000, was translated into Japanese. That edition quickly sold out and was reprinted. It describes among other events, the February 10th mission against Ota, which resulted in O’Donnel and his fellow crew members being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Jim met his wife, Joye Oates, at the wedding of Alice Mach and Warren Coughlin while he was stationed at Ellington AFB in Texas. Joye and Jim married in 1946, and five years later moved to their new home in Bellaire. After leaving the military at the rank of Captain, he attended University of Houston and briefly sold life insurance. The majority of Jim’s career was spent in the lumber industry, primarily at Oates, Stahlman, and Montalbano. His native ability with numbers enabled him to accurately calculate materials for complicated jobs, and to excel at playing bridge, particularly when bidding no-trump. He possessed a sharp wit, was very competitive, and would definitely not be described as a graceful loser. After retiring, Jim and Joye traveled abroad and attended Air Force reunions all over the United States. An avid sports fan, Jim followed teams from both Houston and Pittsburgh, but his main interest was golf. He became a minor celebrity at Braeburn Country Club when on January 11, 2000, he made TWO holes-in-one in the same round!

Mr. O’Donnel was living in the Plaza at the Buckingham retirement community at the time of his passing. He is predeceased by his wife, Joye, his parents, his brothers, Wayne and Bill, and his sisters, Dorothy and Nancy. He is survived by his four children: Peggy McGinty and husband, Milton; Patricia Bacot and husband, David; Mike O’Donnel and wife, Glori; and Jim O’Donnel, Jr. He also leaves ten grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, his brother, Dick O’Donnel, and numerous nieces and nephews.

For those desiring, contributions may be made to NADF which provides information and support to those with Addison’s disease – [email protected] National Adrenal Diseases Foundation, 505 Northern Blvd., Great Neck, NY 11021.