1923 – 2005

James “Jim” Edwin Elliott, 82, died Monday, July 18, 2005, at a Fort Worth hospital. Funeral: Committal will be at a later date.

Jim was born July 5, 1923, in Washington, N.C., to James Sprunt Elliott and Essie Helen Harmon. He grew up and finished school in North Carolina. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps with the Eighth Air Force. He was a flying fortress navigator/bombardier in the 381st Bomb Group (“L”) flying missions over Germany. He was employed by Union Carbide in Oak Ridge, Tenn., following his discharge from service. He and Melba were married there in 1949. As a veteran, he enrolled at Georgia Tech and earned his E.E. degree in 1954. He accepted a position with Convair in Fort Worth and was employed by General Dynamics/Lockheed until his retirement in 1987. Jim had varied interests. He was a bassoonist with the Oak Ridge Symphony and played several other instruments. At Georgia Tech, he was a member of the band/orchestra and Kappa Kappa Si. He had also belonged to the NRA and the VFW. Above all, Jim loved flying. He was associated with the Soaring Society of America and an instructor and pilot with the Texas Soaring Association near Midlothian.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Frances Loveless. Survivors: Wife of 56 years, Melba; son, James and wife, Lynne; grandsons, Jason, of Arlington, Sgt. James Robert and wife, Kristy, of Camp Pendleton, Calif., and their daughters, Elizabeth and Victoria; sister, Lucy Troutman and husband, Kenneth, of Highland, Calif.; brother-in-law, William Loveless of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.