James Alford Atchison

James Alford Atchison, Sr., age 74, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on September 8th, 2015 at 1:30 p.m at Northeast Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. He was born on November 30, 1940 in Greensboro, Alabama to Joseph Elwood Atchison and Agnes Towle LaCoste. James attended and graduated Tuscaloosa County High School in 1960. In 1962, he joined the U.S. Army where he was deployed stateside and overseas to Korea and Germany as a Paratrooper and as a HAWK Air Defense Missile technician. In that time he had four children, James Jr., Roy, Thomas and Nicole that resided with their mother in El Paso, Texas. On July 26th, 1985 he married his wife Janet Lea Miller (Sommerlad), where he became a step-father to three young children; oldest Jason and twins Shawn and Stephanie. He retired from the U.S. Army on September 30th, 1986. He then moved in 1989 to his current residence in San Antonio, Texas. James's special interests and hobbies included traveling with his wife and family, loved attending his annual family reunion in Alabama, working on cars, watching the weather and news with coffee in hand, taking care of his plants, and spending time with his children and many grandkids. He is survived by his beloved wife Janet of 30 years; sister Lizzie Dell; daughters Nicole and Stephanie; sons James Jr., Roy, Thomas, Jason and Shawn; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren that he was so very proud of. Memorial Services were held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery on September 11, 2015 at 2:45 p.m. His remains will be taken to his final resting place in Jennings Chapel in Alabama next to his mother, father and brother Don.