James McCall

A memorial service was held on Monday, October 26, 2009, at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church-UCC in Grand Junction, CO, for James L. McCall, 86, of Grand Junction. Reverend Sharyl Peterson officiated. Burial will be made on Saturday, November 7, at 2 p.m. at the Center Grove Cemetery near Westboro, MO. Pastor David Wynn will officiate. Graveside services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home in Tarkio.

Jim was born in Downing, MO, on April 11, 1923. He grew up in Tarkio where he graduated from high school and attended Tarkio College.
Jim will be remembered for his 32 years in the Air Force as a pilot, rising to Colonel. His Tarkio family and friends followed his career from his induction at Atchison, KS, in 1942. Jim completed basic training at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; Aviation Cadet Training at San Antonio, TX; Primary Flight Training at Pine Bluff, AK; Advanced Training at Eagle Pass, TX; and P-47 training at Winfield, TX.

Jim served as a pilot operation’s officer and unit commander. He was a pilot of P-47s and C-47s in India. He was a pilot and squadron intelligence officer in WB-29s in Korea. Jim was a staff officer and pilot in the 41st Air Division in Japan, and squadron commander of the Airborne Early Warning unit. He flew EC-121 Constellations and served as commander of a Task Force flying EC-121s. Jim was commander of the Over the Horizon Radar Unit. He served overseas in India and China for seven months; three years in Japan, 1950-53, and another three years in Japan from 1960-63; one year in Thailand, 1968-69; and three years in Italy, 1971-74. Jim received a Legion of Merit with one OLC; Air Medal with three OLCs; Korean Service Medal with nine Campaign Stars; and a Commendation Medal with two OLCs.

After retiring from the Air Force, Jim was a Real Estate Agent in Grand Junction for 15 years. He was a resident of Grand Junction for
35 years, living there with his first wife, Martha, who preceded him in death, and with his second wife, Dorothy. Jim was a long standing member of the First Congregational Church-UCC, a member of the Redlands Lions Club and Grand Junction Quiet Birds, Military Officer’s Association, and the American Legion of Tarkio.

Without wanting any recognition, Jim had a passion for community service, helping personally and through the Lions Club with community projects like Kid Sight, Blind & Deaf Rehabilitation of Western Colorado, cell phone collection for disabled persons, scholarship for Mesa College students and helping his neighbors with small farm projects. He also loved golf and practiced with his friends to achieve that perfect game.
Jim was preceded in death by his first wife, Martha; and his daughter, Beth Aldrich, and his brother, Russel, both buried in Tarkio. He is survived by second wife, Dorothy; his sister, Barbara Albin; son-in-law, Rich Aldrich; his grandchildren, Luke Sullivan
(Jessica) and Kelley Sullivan-McNelly (Mark); and his great- grandchildren, Reece and Riley Sullivan and Mark and Aydan McNelly.
Instead of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First Congregational Church-UCC, 1425 N 5th St., Grand Junction, CO 81501; or Hospice Palliative Care of Western Colorado, 3090 N 12th S., Grand Junction, CO 81506.