Lt. Col. James C. (Jim Peek

Lt. Col. (USAF Retired) James C. (Jim) Peek, age 87 completed his mission on earth and went to his reward on July 5, 2008. He was born on September 8, 1920 in Montgomery, Alabama; the first born son of James Young Peek and Winnie Clark Hubbard. He answered his country's call and enlisted in the U.S. Army as an Aviation Cadet on February 28, 1942. He received his pilot's wings on December 7, 1942 and his 2nd Lieutenant commission on December 13, 1942. Between February 1943 and May 1944, Jim served in the Desert Air Force in North Africa and in Sicily and Italy where he flew 93 combat missions against the enemy in P-40 aircraft. In July 1947, he was assigned to the 27th Strategic Fighter Group at Kearney, Nebraska; which in the spring of 1949, was transferred to Bergstrom Air Force Base at Austin, Texas. Not long after arriving in Austin, he met Shirley Jo Ray and they were married on January 31, 1950. When the Korean War erupted, he again answered his country's call on June 25, 1950 and volunteered along with other members of the 27th Fighter Group to serve in that conflict. He flew 85 combat missions in P-51 aircraft. In December 1951, he returned to the United States after 18 months of duty in Korea. Medals awarded to Colonel Peek were the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Unit Citation, Korean War Service Medal, and many more. He was also awarded a Japanese Government commendation for assisting in establishing the post war Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. Upon retirement in October 1962 after 21 years of active duty, Jim enrolled in the University of Texas and graduated 3 years later with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. He taught World Geography and History in the Austin Public Schools for 15 years, retiring in May 1982. He and his wife Shirley moved to Lakeway, Texas in the spring of 1985 where they enjoyed participating in community affairs and the game of golf. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Shirley R. Peek and his sons Robert J. Peek and John R. Peek. He is also survived by granddaughters, Diana M. Peek and Lara E. Peek; sister, Dorothy T. Huss of Faulkton, South Dakota; and brother, William Fred Peek of Montgomery, Alabama. He will be missed by his many friends in the Lakeway and Austin area. Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 12, 2008 at The Lakeway Church, 2203 Lakeway Blvd., Lakeway, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 149100, Austin, Texas 78714.