Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....MCCLELLAND, JAMES N. November 12, 2012
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Gina Brown rootsgirl36@gmail.com November 28, 2012, 4:22 am

News Star World - November 15, 2012
JAMES N. MCCLELLAND


After a lengthy illness, Papa Jim returned peacefully to Jesus on November 12, 
2012. He spent his last days at the home of his son Jim and daughter-in-law 
Kim.

Born May 2, 1930 in Buffalo, New York to Norman and Zelma McClelland, Papa Jim 
spent the first half of his life on the road. As the son of a VA physician and 
then as a fighter pilot, Papa Jim spent his life serving his country.

A graduate of Byrd High School and Centenary College of Louisiana in 
Shreveport, Louisiana, Papa Jim began his military career in 1951. He first 
served as an interceptor pilot in Japan as well as other duty stations until 
1959. He then served as a test pilot until 1965, when he began training for 
duty in Vietnam. He flew 100 missions as an F-105 pilot in Vietnam in 1967. He 
reached the pinnacle of his career as the wing commander of the 474 Tactical 
Fighter Wing in Las Vegas, Nevada. He retired in 1981 with 30 years of 
service. Among his many achievements, Papa Jim was the recipient of the 
Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal, with multiple oak leaf clusters, and 
a Masters in Business Administration.

Papa Jim was a generous and caring man, volunteering his time and talents to 
many causes, including church, scouting, the Combined Federal Campaign and 
helping others with free income tax preparation. He loved his family raising 
two sons, Scott and James Keith. The love of his life, Martha Louise, preceded 
him in death. 

Papa Jim loved his family home, Sam's Hill Tree Farm, spending 
many "retirement" hours developing and maintaining the tree farm south of 
Gilmer, Texas. He exhibited the excellence of a fighter pilot in his work as a 
tree farmer, earning the distinction as landowner of the year. 

Papa Jim is survived by his two sons, daughters-in-law Evelyn and Kim, 
grandchildren, Kyle, Brett, Kate, Patrick, Patricia and Loren, and his poodle, 
Samantha Ann, his constant companion and "caretaker" during the last seven 
years. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Tommy.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Alan Borne, and the staffs of Community Angels 
of Hope and St. Joseph's Hospice for their care for and love of Papa Jim.

The family will welcome visitors at Osborn Funeral Home in Shreveport, 
Louisiana on Friday, November 16th, 2012 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Interment 
will be at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Gilmer, Texas at 9:30 am on 
Saturday, November 17th, 2012. A memorial service will be held at Saint 
Matthias Episcopal Church in Shreveport on November 17th, 2012 at noon.

Pallbearers will be Scott McClelland, Jim McClelland, Patrick McClelland, Kyle 
McClelland, Brett McClelland and Loren McClelland.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the either of 
the two following charitable organizations:

Children's Organ Transplant Association account for Loren, 2501 West COTA 
Drive, Bloomington, Indiana 47403 or www.cota.org Louisiana Methodist 
Children's Home, P.O. Box 929, Ruston, LA 71273.

Osborn Funeral Home 





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