James Earl Coleman

MISSOULA – James Earl Coleman, United States Air Force colonel (ret.), died Jan. 27, 2013, from natural causes at age 90 in Missoula and was interred at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery on Jan. 30.

James Earl was born Jan. 19, 1923, in Waxahachie, Texas, to Claude Earl and Jessie Coleman. He was the second of three children. In 1932, the family moved to Richardson, Texas, where James Earl quarterbacked the Richardson High School football team and was valedictorian of his graduation class. He then attended John Tarleton College, graduated in 1943 and joined the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Based in Cerignola, Italy, during World War II, Lt. Coleman was navigator of a B-24 crew, earning four Bronze Stars, a Distinguished Flying Cross and, on his 20th mission on April 8, 1945, a Purple Heart when he was wounded by flak. Despite his wound, he guided the stricken plane and its crew safely back to their home base in Italy.

After the war, James Earl left the service and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration at Southern Methodist University. He re-entered the Air Force in 1947, obtained his pilot's wings, earned a Master of Science at the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology and served until 1974, retiring as a full colonel and director of production and procurement at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio.

James Earl married Jeanne Arnold in 1948 and raised four children with her. Many years after their divorce, James Earl reignited his wartime romance with Marjorie Colclazier (nee Ousterhout). They were married in 1996, and she brought "Jimy" 15 more years of love until her death in 2011. James Earl derived great comfort from his faith in God and his assurance of salvation through Jesus Christ.

He is survived by his sons, Rick of Costa Mesa, Calif., Mark and wife Julie of Missoula and Brett of Washington, D.C.; his daughter, Pam of San Diego; stepchildren, Diana and Kenny Parker of Joplin, Mo., Larry and Sondra Colclazier of Springfield, Mo., Kathy and Gary Sortino of Omaha, Neb., and John and Jan Colclazier of Springfield, Mo.; as well as their children and grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Purple Heart Association at purpleheart.org.


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