Col. Jimmy E. Nolen, Jr.
d. September 11, 2018
James E. Nolen, Jr. (Colonel,
USAF, Ret.), 85, of Columbus, died at home on Tuesday, September, 11, 2018. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 15, 2018, at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church. A private family interment will immediately follow at Vernon City Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 2:00 PM at the church. Memorial Gunter Peel Funeral Home & Crematory, 2nd Ave. North location is in charge of arrangements.
James was born February 2, 1933, in Vernon, AL, to James E. Nolen, Sr. and Inez Yarbrough Nolen. He graduated from Lamar County High School in 1950 and continued his education, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Management from the University of Alabama and a Masters Degree from Louisiana Tech. At Bama, he completed four years in the Air Force ROTC program and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. upon graduation and scheduled for pilot training. He received his Silver Wings in 1956 and was assigned to the Air Defense Command flying jet interceptors. After four years of active duty, he separated and flew with the Alabama Air National Guard at Birmingham. His unit was called to active duty during the Berlin Wall Crisis of 1961 and deployed to France. Upon completion of his one year tour, the USAF was calling for jet pilots and he elected to stay on active duty. His next
assignment was to Arizona as an Instructor Pilot. Later, he served in Korea, Oklahoma, Vietnam, Louisiana, and Columbus AFB, MS. In 1967, he began flying the CT-39 aircraft and over the next 10 years he logged over 4,000 hours in it, becoming the USAF pilot with the most hours in the aircraft type in 1978. While serving in Vietnam, he logged just over 1,000 hours including combat time. Upon promotion to Colonel in 1979, he was assigned to Columbus AFB as Deputy Commander for Resource Management. He retired in 1985 as a Colonel having served a combined total of 28 years and 7 months on active duty and having logged over 7,400 hours of military time. After retirement, he taught AFJROTC at Lee and Columbus High School for 7 years. He also served many years with the Air Force Association and Military Officers Association of America, having served each as President for 2 years.
James is survived by his wife of 62 years, Martha Graves Nolen; sons, James E. Nolen, III (Vikki) of Birmingham, AL and Andrew A. Nolen (Allison) of Atlanta, GA; daughter, Rachel Nolen Nix (Patrick, Sr.) of Shreveport, LA; grandsons, Andrew Nolen and Zachary Nolen of Atlanta, GA, Patrick Nix, Jr. and Matthew Nix of Shreveport, LA; and granddaughters, Jessie Adams (Mike) of Birmingham, AL and Maggie Nolen of Atlanta, GA.
Pallbearers will be the members of the United States Air Force Honor Guard, James E. Nolen, III, Andrew A. Nolen, Patrick D. Nix, Jr., Matthew J. Nix, Andrew G. “Drew” Nolen and Zachary J. Nolen. Honorary pallbearers include the members of Dr. Perrin Smith’s sunday school class.
The family would like to thank Encompass Hospice and Comfort Keepers workers for all of their service and compassion. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Love Indeed Ministry, First Baptist Church, PO BOX 829 Columbus, MS 39703 or The Crossing Building Fund, First Baptist Church, PO BOX 829 Columbus, MS 39703.
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