LT. COL. JAMES W. PERSONS

Lt. Col. James W. Persons, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired, died Sunday, Jan. 4. The funeral will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Arlington. Burial will be Dallas Fort-Worth National Cemetery in Dallas. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Arlington Funeral Home.

Col. Persons was born in Fort Worth and grew up in Rusk, where he graduated from high school. He attended Texas A&M, Arlington State College, East Carolina State, and Chapman College. In June 1953, he enlisted in the Naval Aviation Cadet Program,. He was awarded his "Wings of Gold," then commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1954. He completed flight training, and during his career, he flew 18 different types of aircraft including jet, helicopter and transport, holding transport aircraft commander and helicopter commander designations, a rare combination.

He served as a Marine aviator on three tours of duty flying helicopters in Vietnam. Medals he earned while in service include: The National Defense Service Medal with One Star, the Air Medal with 19 strike/ flight awards, One Single Mission Air Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Unit Citation with One Star, Vietnam Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Bronze Star Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Medal with two Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Civil Actions Color (1st class) with Palm and Gold Frame. He retired from the Marine Corp. after 22 years of service in 1974, and settled in Arlington with his wife and two sons.

Col. Persons went on to do commercial real estate management after retirement. He and his family were members of Trinity United Methodist Church. He was a past-president of the Greater Southwest Rotary, past member of the board of directors of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, and served on the advisory committee for the American Red Cross. He was past president of the Arlington Veteran's Park Memorial Foundation, which he initiated with the help of the Rotary Club of Arlington in 2004. He was also a benefactor member of the National Rifle Association. Other honors he received included Rotarian of the Year Award, and the Paul Harris Fellow Award.

Col. Persons was preceded in death by his father and stepmother, Robert and Helen Persons, mother and stepfather, Lou and Irl Dowd and sister, Patricia Montgomery.

Survivors are his wife of 53 years, Sheri; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Jim Persons of Austin and Tim and Linda Persons of Kennedale; two granddaughters, Ashleigh and Autumn; brother and sister-inlaw, Cliff and Wynell Steely; aunts, Joy Morris and Martha Ann Persons; nieces, Susan Steely, Madison Naymola, Barbara Morgan, Vicki Leahy, Valorie Everett and Kristine Steely; and nephews Mike Steely, Chris Steely, and Ricky Morgan.

Pallbearers will be Ricky Morgan, Chris Leahy, Ray Catropia, Wally Simpson, Mike Steely, and Chris Steely. Honorary pallbearers include Robert Shattuck, Victor Manning, Dick Barry, Cliff Steely Jr., Jack Higgins, Bruce Miller, Jim Coker, Albert Ross, David Ritchey, Randy Kildow, Roger Peiman, Jim Haskell, and Chet Hurd.

Those wishing to contribute to the Arlington Veteran's Park Memorial Foundation in Lt. Col. Person's name, may call (817) 265-0969 to make a donation

Information from The Cherokeean Herald