James Warren Schofield Sr.

James W. Schofield (Jim) passed away peacefully February 1, 2022, surrounded by members of his family. He was born on December 10, 1931 to Walter Rex and Juanita (Minnick) Schofield in Casper, Wyoming. He was raised in Midwest, Wyoming, graduating from Midwest High School in 1948.

In July, 1950, Jim left Midwest to enlist in the U.S. Navy, as the Korean War had just begun and he didn’t want to get drafted into the Army. Two recruiting offices were side by side. The Navy office happened to be closed, but the U.S. Air Force office was open. He enlisted and began his 21-year career in the Air Force, retiring in 1971 as Senior Master Sergeant. He served as a Flight Engineer with over 9,000 hours of flying time, earning numerous awards and medals. He flew 160 hours combat time over Vietnam, earning the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. He was the Flight Engineer on the first all-jet airplane (C-141A) to land at McMurdo Station Antarctica, earning the Antarctic Service Medal. The flight left Christchurch, New Zealand, landed on an ice runway at McMurdo Station and offloaded fuel. Upon his Air Force retirement, he and his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee when he spent 20 years working at NAS Millington. In 1994, he and his wife moved to Corpus Christi.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Bobby, and his wife of 54 years, Ruth.

He is survived by sons: Era Horton, Jr. (Toni) of Salem, OR; Jimmy Schofield (Ceilia) of Heber Springs, AR; Drew Schofield (Rhonda) of Cordova, TN; and daughter, Debby Horton Boyle (Bobby) of Corpus Christi, TX; 17 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren; sister, Lois Jeffery of Green River, WY; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Jim served his country in the Air Force with great distinction and lived his life in a most humble and honorable way, He cared about his country, his family, his community and his neighbors. He was famous for saying he could “fix anything but a broken heart”. Our hearts are broken today, but we are comforted in knowing he and mom are together again.

A memorial service will be held Friday, February 4 at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church. Burial services will be in West Tennessee State Veteran’s Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee date and time is pending.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CageMillsFuneralDirectors.com for the Schofield family.