James Leland Wilson (Retired USAF Colonel)

James Leland Wilson (retired USAF Colonel), 85, passed peacefully on the first day of Fall, September 22, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas, from an extended illness. Colonel James “Jim” Wilson was born February 8, 1935 in East Point, Louisiana. He grew up not far from there in Springhill, Louisiana, where he discovered three of the great loves of his life: football, cheese, and his wife, Diane. Not a big guy but a tough one, he played offense and defense on the Springhill High School State Championship team of 1952. He and Diane met in kindergarten and began dating in high school. They attended Louisiana Tech together, where they married in the summer of 1954, following their Freshman year. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in business management and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force in 1957.

Entering active duty in 1958, Colonel Wilson discovered another great life-long passion, flying fighter jets; what he called “serious fun”. Colonel Wilson was a command pilot with over 3,000 hours of flying time, primarily in the F-100 and F-105. He completed 100 missions in the F-105 over North Vietnam, with an additional 18 missions over Laos. His awards and decorations include the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Colonel Wilson’s career took Diane and their four children all over the United States and Europe and him all over the world.

Colonel Wilson retired in 1985, after 28 years of stellar service to his country. He and Diane moved to San Antonio where they enjoyed their retirement by spending time with their children and their families, which included five cherished grandchildren. Many good times were had at their condo on Lake LBJ fishing, jet skiing and boating. He and Diane later moved to Air Force Village in 2003. Diane passed away in 2008 on their 54th wedding anniversary. Following her passing, Colonel Wilson remained very close to his family, spending lots of time in Cedar Creek with his children and extended family, who all adored him. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed sitting on the back porch in Cedar Creek watching the sunrise and the deer, especially the newborn fawns in the Spring. In August of 2017 he welcomed his first great-grandchild, the latest love of his life and according to him, the cutest one of all.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Diane Milner Wilson; his parents, Leland Allen (“Red”) Wilson and Vurdice Scott Wilson Cardwell; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank and Lucille Milner; his sister, Hellen Youra; brother, Scott Cardwell; and his niece, Patricia Quattro. Jim is survived by his son, Davis Milner Wilson and wife Gail Wilson of Round Rock, Texas; daughters, Leeanne Wilson Pacatte and husband, Daniel Pacatte of Cedar Creek, Texas, Tracy Wilson Adams of Austin, Texas, Lauren Wilson Millard and husband, Michael Millard of Peyton, Colorado; sister, Vicki Rucker and husband Dave Rucker, of Chandler, Texas; sister-in-law, Terri Cardwell of Lake Jackson, Texas; grandchildren, Timothy Wilson Pacatte and wife Angela Pacatte, Clayton James Pacatte and wife Kerri O’Brien, Jessica Wilson, Madison Millard, Ross Millard; great-grandchild, Reese Pacatte; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.

The family would like to express their profound gratitude and appreciation to the staff of Liberty House and Hospice Care for their loving, generous and kind care of Jim.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 23, 2020, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

A graveside service, with full military honors, will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. Pallbearers will be Daniel Pacatte, Timothy Pacatte, Michael Millard, Ross Millard, Charles Scheitlin, and David Rucker, with Clayton Pacatte, Jessica Wilson, and Madison Millard as honorary pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jim’s favorite charity, the Air Force Village Charitable Foundation.

Service was livestreamed and can be viewed below: