James L. Solum

James Solum enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on May 31, 1955 at the age of 17 and retired on July 1, 1986 as a Colonel after 31 years of service. In 1965 while at Vance AFB, Oklahoma he was selected as an Instructor Pilot teaching advanced flying in the supersonic T-38 Talon. In 1971 James served one tour in Vietnam flying seventy-seven combat missions as a Forward Air Controller in the OV-10 Bronco. Following time oversees he was again involved in flight training and logistics support for the then classified development of the F-117A Stealth Fighter. After being promoted to Colonel, James was reassigned to Eielson AFB, Alaska as the Deputy Commander for Maintenance with the 343rd Tactical Fighter Wing where he managed facility construction and the conversion of the unit to A-10 Thunderbolt II Aircraft and Munitions Maintenance and Engineering until his retirement in 1986.

While at Plattsburgh AFB, New York he met Donna A. Walcott of Dannemora, New York and they married on November 28, 1959 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Dannemora. She passed away on October 9, 2018. They had two sons James Lynn Solum, Jr. and Wayne Edward Solum. They also had 9 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service for James will be held Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660.

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