Colonel James H. Tegarden, USAF, Retired

On Thursday, May 28, 2020, Colonel James (Jim) Howard Tegarden, USAF, Ret., age 95, left this life and went to be with the Lord and reunited with his beautiful wife, Joanne. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Jim passed away peacefully in Austin, Texas at his daughter’s home with his two daughters by his side. In the last days of his life, he was surrounded by numerous family members who sang, prayed, read scripture, and rejoiced in the hope found in Jesus.

Jim was born March 9, 1925 in Mitchell, Indiana. After 18 years growing up in the small southern Indiana farming community of Orleans, World War II radically altered his life. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in July 1943, two months after high school graduation at Orleans High School. He received a commission and pilot wings at Freeman Field, Seymour, Indiana in 1945. As combat in Europe was winding down, he became an Army reservist, returning to civilian life in Orleans, Indiana. On May 3, 1946, he married Joanne Burton whom he met the previous year on her 16th birthday. They would have 4 children over the next 7 years. His love of flying spurred him to return to active military service in the USAF in 1952. In March 1953, he went to Guam in support of the Korean Conflict. His family joined him there in June where they resided the next two years. Military assignments took him and family to Waco, San Antonio and Austin, Texas where he graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1966. He then served in Viet Nam in 1966/67, flying more than 100 combat missions. His last duty station was at the Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs, CO. He ended a distinguished military career on July 3rd, 1974, at the age of 49. He retired a full Colonel with 31 years of military service to his country, 24 of it active. He earned many military awards during his career including: Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, World War II Victory Medal. He was recently honored by the American Legion with a 75 year membership pin. OUR HERO.

After retirement, Jim and Joanne moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, enjoying 25 years of golf, casinos, entertaining family and traveling the country in their RV. After Joanne’s passing in 2004, Jim moved to Sun City, Georgetown, Texas to be near his daughters and grandchildren. We enjoyed joining him for many Sunday services at the Worship Place in Sun City. In 2015, he moved to the Arbor Terrace in Lakeway, Texas where he attended The Lakeway Church.

Jim is survived by his daughters, Brenda Cox (Tommy) and Betti Bunce (John). He dearly loved his nine grandchildren, Rob Wright, Jerry Smith, Kristin Payne, Brandy Belk, Greg Smith, Casey Bunce, Alyssa Simpson, Garrett Cox and Travis Cox; as well as, 16 great grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren along with numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joanne; daughter, Barbara Jo; son, Charles Richard (Dickie); parents, Howard & Jane Tegarden and sister, Betty Lindley.

Jim was a remarkable example of love, service, loyalty, and Godliness in the lives of innumerable friends, acquaintances, and especially his family. His life and legacy will live on forever in the book he wrote and published for his family members and the online Tegarden/Burton family album.

His family would like to extend our love and gratitude to the many friends and family members for their support, as well as the nurses and staff at the Arbor Terrace Lakeway and Silverado Hospice.

Private family services will be held for Colonel Tegarden on Sunday, June 7, 2020. A public memorial service with military honors will be held at a date yet to be decided.