Colonel (Ret) James W. Alexander

Colonel (Ret) James W. Alexander, 91, originally from Columbia, North Carolina, passed away on July 15, 2024, in his adopted hometown of Abilene, Texas.

Visitation will be July 25, 2024, from 5-7pm at the Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Burial services with full military honors will be held on July 26, 2024, at 10am at the Texas State Veterans’ Cemetery in Abilene, Texas. A Memorial Service will be held the same day at 2pm at The Hamil Family Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Patterson of First Methodist Church (GMC) officiating, and Jim Reinbolt assisting. 

Jim was born in Columbia, North Carolina, to Walter and Cornelia Alexander on May 8, 1933. He was the youngest brother to five older sisters who subsequently raised him after his mother died when he was just twelve years old. He graduated from Columbia High School in 1951, but had much bigger dreams than small town life. College was the key to this, and so in 1951, with just a few dollars in his pocket, he left Columbia for East Carolina University. He joined the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program and financed his way through college by playing his saxophone in numerous musical combos and dance bands. In 1955, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music and soon after entered the Air Force to become a pilot. 

Jim often said he was really a musician who just happened to fly airplanes, but he was an outstanding pilot, respected Air Force officer and a commanding leader. Over his 30-year military career, Jim distinguished himself as a C-130 command pilot with over 8,000 flight hours, flying airlift missions on six of the seven continents including: over 500 missions to the Polar Ice Cap to help build the United States’ first Distant Early Warning Radar System; flying missions in response to the Belgian Congo uprising; once flying JFK’s rocking chair to Mexico City ensuring the Commander-in-Chief could be comfortable; and two tours of duty in Southeast Asia, where he flew everything from tanks and troops, to beer and grub for the soldiers on the ground. He even once transported an entire Vietnamese hamlet and its inhabitants to safety. This included the villagers’ cows, chickens, goats, and even their water buffalo all loaded in the back of his C-130 aircraft. The highlight of his diverse career was being selected as the Commander for the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing, Clark Air Base, Philippine Islands from May 1980 to June 1981. He was awarded the Legit of Merit, a Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. 

But perhaps most importantly, Jim was an incredible husband, father, and family man. In 1959 while stationed in Smyrna, Tennessee, he met the love of his life, Glenda Merriman, and they were married on February 6, 1960. Together they built a unique and wonderful life for their three children, Karen, Gary, and Jenny. Although his career often took him away from his family, sometimes for months or even a year at a time, Jim would write letters, send gifts and call as often as he could. When he was home, he always made the most of the time they had together, with many happy family trips and adventures that are still fondly remembered by all. A gifted musician and amazing saxophone player, he shared his love for music with his family. He took every opportunity to blow his horn at gigs around the world and once even soloed while playing a pick-up gig with the Air Force Band of the Pacific. Moreover, he had a beautiful tenor voice and sang in (or directed) the choir of every church his family attended.

After his military career, Jim worked as the Director of Airport Operations at the Nashville International Airport in Tennessee. In 1996, and having been stationed at Dyess AFB twice during his time in the military, Jim retired and moved to Abilene with Glenda for the quiet life – they wanted to make a real home here. Fully embracing retirement, he played golf regularly, traveled abroad with Glenda, spent time with his five grandchildren, was an active and faithful member of St Paul’s and Aldersgate Methodist Churches, played his saxophone with the Abilene Community Band for over 20 years, and even recorded two jazz CDs, “Jim Alexanders and Friends”, and “The Simple Life”, which forever captured his exception music talent. 

Jim was truly an amazing person in every way. Funny, smart and talented, he was a true gentleman, a generous and loving human being, and always (without doubt) the best storyteller in the room. 

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and five sisters and is survived by his wife of 64 years, Glenda, his half-sister Deanne, his three children Karen (Jeff Morton), Gary, (Amy Alexander) and Jenny (Sean Glover), his five grandchildren, Sarah (Brent Braden), Zachary (Katie Alexander), Rebecca (Kevin Jackson), Christopher, and Hannah (Ashton Gonzales), and his five great-grandchildren, Liam Alexander, Jeffery and Matthew Braden, and James and Madelynn Jackson, all whom will miss him every single day. 

Honorary pallbearers will be: Gary Alexander, Zachary Alexander, Christopher Alexander, Jeff Morton, Brent Braden, Kevin Jackson, and Sean Glover. 

Memorials may be given to the Love and Care Ministries of Abilene, Meals on Wheels, the Food Bank of West Central Texas, and the Abilene Community Band.

The family of James Alexander wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the staff at Wesley Court Skilled Nursing facility (especially Nurse Carrie), Visiting Angels including Janice Broyles, and Hospice of the Big Country.

Rest in peace, Colonel. Fly high and show those angels how to really blow a horn.