Jewell "J.J." James
July 13, 1920 ~ May 5, 2015
On Tuesday May 5th, 2015 Jewel J. James (J.J.) passed into the loving arms of his Heavenly Father. He was born July 13, 1920 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Noah James and Candice Aileen Slaughter.
He lost both parents in his childhood and he and his 5 siblings were sent to live with various family members. He was also in the care of the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home in Monroe, LA. He graduated High School in Ouachita, Parish and attended Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana where he studied Chemistry. As so many other of his time, he joined the Army on June 26, 1943 to fight for our country in WWII. He flew a P-51 and served as leader of a flight squadron in the European Theatre of Operations. He flew 101 missions and had many stories of bravery and heroism that all were called upon to perform in those times. One such mission was on August 22, 1944, he located and pinpointed more than 100 enemy transports moving northeast from Nimes (France), while on a reconnaissance mission in that area. Suspecting that the Germans might be making a general withdrawal, he remained in the area, despite heavy anti-aircraft fire, and located 25 more enemy transports moving north on secondary roads from Nimes and 40 enemy transports moving northeast from Montbazius. This information was flashed to the controller and ground troops and proved of such value that in the ensuing week, fighter bombers destroyed thousands of enemy vehicles, personnel and other enemy equipment. By the time he had finished serving he had accumulated the Distinguished Flying Cross, an Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon with 4 Bronze Battle Stars and an American Defense Service Medal. During the war while training in San Antonio, Texas, he met his future wife Josefina (Josephine) Lazareno Calvert and they married on June 26, 1943. They were blessed with 5 children and raised them in San Antonio. After the war, J.J. became a general contractor and builder. He built many homes all over San Antonio including his own as well as for 3 of his children in later years. He spent time at home with his family and enjoyed tending a garden every year full of vegetables, fruit and peppers. He and Josephine would host large Christmas celebrations at their home every year where family and friends would gather. They both always felt that were very blessed by God.
Jewel is preceded in death by his parents, siblings, his wife Josephine Lazareno Calvert James and grandson Joel Quintanilla.
Jewel is survived by his children and their spouses Shirley Wendell (Wayne), Susan A. James, Clyde James (Kathy), Judy James, and Paula Quintanilla (John). He is also survived by his grandchildren David Wendell (Angela), Mark Wendell, Amy Garza (Omar), Lisa Kelly (Joseph), Judy Kinlaw (Brian), Loretta Herring, Joshua James, Daniel Quintanilla, Hannah Quintanilla, Christina Quintanilla, Angela Quintanilla, Michael Joseph Quintanilla, Monica Quintanilla, Samuel Quintanilla, and Gloria Quintanilla and by his great-grandchildren Victoria Wendell, Jonathan Wendell, Devin Kinlaw, Corrine Kinlaw, Cael Kinlaw, Lila Garza, Marco Garza, Colton Wendell and Brant Kelly.
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J.J., as his family called him was obviously something very special. He was a dedicated and loyal servant to his country and his God. Loyal, sincere, humble, and loving are just some of the terms that come to mind when thinking of him. He was quiet and unassuming, but was “solid as a rock†as a human being & follower of Jesus Christ. We would all do well to follow his example.
“He Loved and was Lovedâ€.