James L. Smith

James L. “Jim” Smith passed away Tuesday, October 3, 2017 in Fort Worth at the age of 97.

SERVICES: Visitation Monday 6 pm, Lucas Funeral Home, Services Tuesday 10 a.m. at Lucas Funeral Home, Father Shawn Rainey presiding, Graveside service Tuesday 12:30 pm Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

Jim was born in Magnolia, Arkansas and raised in Stockton, California by his Aunt and Uncle Alice and Ben Cruz during the Great Depression.

Learning how to fly at age 15, it was Jim’s life long passion. Jim enlisted in the Army in 1940 and eventually became a pilot during World War II reaching the rank of First Lieutenant, flying bombers at the end of the war. After the war, Jim was an airline pilot for Pioneer and Central Airlines. Then Jim became a pilot for Texas oilman Sid Richardson for ten years until his death, flying many dignitaries including Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson and Sam Rayburn. Jim ended his aviation career as a simulator flight instructor with American Airlines for 27 years.

Jim finally received his WW II service medals on Veterans Day 2015: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article44291142.html

Jim was married to Lillian Smith for 60 years until her death in 2010. Jim loved traveling, talking about flying and engaging family and friends with his corny sense of humor. Jim also was a friend to every dog he ever met.

SURVIVORS: Jim is survived by his faithful dog Bluey; brother Brooks and his wife Margaret; son Paul; daughter Pamela Smith Martin and her husband, Robert, and their son Philip; daughter Robin Lincke, her husband Eric, and their children Maureen, Lydia, Beatrice and Theo; son Jason and his twins Sloan and Brennan; son James and his wife, Jeanie, and his son Ethan; and his daughter Kathy Beddingfield, her son, Rob, and daughter, Terri.