James Bailey, 91
James Bailey, 91, of Bashan, Ohio passed away Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018 He was born Jan. 8, 1927 near Bashan, Meigs Co., Ohio. He was the son of the late Thomas and Ruby Alice (McKay) Bailey.
He was the grandson of James Franklin Bailey and Adeline Nease, and Reuben McKay and Cora Rose.
He was the great-grandson of John Bailey and Rachel Goddard and David Nease and Elizabeth Roush.
He was the youngest of four brothers who saw service in WWII.
Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy on June 13, 1944 and served until March 20, 1946 when he was honorably discharged. He came home and finished high school, graduating from Chester High School, class of 1948, and then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in May of 1948. He retired from an interesting and rewarding military career on September 1, 1966.
His military service included: instructor for Radar Fundamentals, Communications Advisor to the Saudi Arabia Air Force. He served as a Jupiter Missle Inertial Guide and worked on the guidance system for Friendship 7, the spaceship that put U.S. Astronaut, John Glen into orbit. He was also an advisor to the Italian Air Force on the Jupiter Missle.
Ret. Chief Master-Sgt. Bailey was the recipient of the following ribbons and awards: WWII Asiatic/Pacific WWII Victory Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal with 5 loops-represents 18 years of military service, American Theater Ribbon, American Defense Ribbon, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Longevity Service Award with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters. Badges include: Missile Man Badge, Sr. Missileman Badge and Master Missileman Badge.
Jim was a life member of the Tuppers Plains VFW Post 9053, Feeney-Bennett Post #128, American Legion, Middleport and the DAV #053, Cheshire. He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church, Pomeroy.
He was a former Superintendent of State Highway Dept., Meigs Co., a founding member of the Bashan Fire Department with 37 years of service, of which he was Fire Chief for 10 years. He owned and operated the Sunoco Service Station in Pomeroy, was Licensed Strip Mine Foreman for the State of Ohio, owned and operated the Wizard Game Room, Pomeroy. He was a farmer and logger prior to his retirement from civilian life. Jim was also a former Little League coach.
He is survived by a son, Clinton James Bailey and wife Carissa Hill Bailey; six grandchildren, Shannon (Eddie) Varner, Kyle David (Shannon) Bailey, Jamie Bailey, Breanna Bailey, Hannah Bailey, Colton Bailey and four great-grandchildren, Ashlynn Cook, Lacey Varner, Bailey Slider and Jaiden Miller. Also surviving is his sister, Audrey (Charles) Spore, Mansfield, Ohio. In addition, he leaves behind four dogs and a bear.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by brothers, Oliver, Robert and Russell Bailey and a sister, Maxie Walters.
Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 at White-Schwarzel Funeral Home in Coolville, Ohio. Burial will be in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.
Visitation will be held Thursday, from 3-5 and 6-8 p.m.
The online guestbook may be signed at www.whiteschwarzelfh.com
