James Rex Newberry

James “Jim” Rex Newberry, 78, Pilot, Missionary-Humanitarian and Adventurer, from Hooker Oklahoma, left this world on August 31, 2021. He passed quickly and peacefully at the Methodists Metropolitan Hospital in San Antonio Texas under the care of Kindred Hospice.

Jim was born May 4, 1943 in San Padro, California, US Army Hospital Fort MacArthur. He is the son of and was preceded in death by his mother Minnie Ruth Zabel-Newberry and father Capt. Jarrel “Jerry” Max Newberry (retired) and step-mother, Betty Jean Newbery (ne’e) Marsden.

Jim was raised in Oklahoma and California. And in 1962 he graduated from North Salinas High School, where he was a member of the Chess Club, Debate Team, and played clarinet in the marching band. He received a scholarship to UC Berkley in mathematics. Jim joined the Air Force and served in Việt Nam where he discovered his love of flying. After his discharge from the military, Jim went on to Gavilan College in Gilroy, earning his Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) and a Diploma in Aviation Technology. Jim was fluent in German, Russian and English.

Jim moved to McAllen Texas in 1977, where he helped to fly many missionaries in and out of Central America, Mexico, and China during the political uprisings in those areas. He was known as a dependable pilot and a trusted maintenance mechanic by the folks he worked with within the Christian missionary field. There he joined the Mennonite Church and met Katharina, they married in 1990.

Jim moved back to Oklahoma to care for his mother in her later years. Jim helped out his neighbors by driving truck during harvest. And eventually became a long-haul truck driver. Jim’s humanitarian work continued with in the Mennonite Community, bringing supplies and needed tools Belize.

Jim did not have much good to say about the way “the world” was going. Watching TV with Jim was always interesting, as he would give you a running commentary on the relevance of every commercial, or program. To say that he was opinionated would be an understatement. Some would say that Jim was STUBORN, and that might be true as an acronym for Smart, Tenacious, Unusual, Brave, Outspoken, Right, and always up for a New Adventure. He will be remembered fondly by both the Zabel and Newberry families his many friends, and his Church.

Jim leaves his loving wife, Katharina Rembel-Newberry of Orange Walk, Belize. His brother David Max Newberry (Donna) of Twin Falls, Idaho. Devoted half-sister, Debra Newberry-Puterbaugh (Bruce) of Lakeport, California and his nephews Bart Dakota White of Santa Cruz, CA; Zachary Seth Millington (Katharine) of Henderson, NV; and niece, Autum Rose Millington Gibson (Jonathan) of Bend OR., and many second nieces, and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides.

A Celebration of his life will be held in the spring next year, at his family’s homes in both California and Oklahoma.

Donations can be made in his name to American Parkinson Disease Association 135 Parkinson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305 or www.apdaparkinson.org