James Davis

James Davis, 89, of Abilene, Texas, passed into Heaven on January 8, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

Visitation will be at 5:00–7:00pm on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at Hamil Funeral Home with Pastor Joe Keller, Covenant Presbyterian Church, officiating. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Burial with full military honors will follow at Texas Veterans Cemetery at Abilene.

James was born in Guntersville, Alabama, to Gertrude Mae Parker and Jeff Miller Davis on October 5, 1934. He attended Guntersville High School until 1951 when he proudly joined the United States Marine Corps. He served in the 1st Marine Division, 1st Battalion, Ground Combat Operations/Infantry in the Korean War where he and fellow Marines fought in bitter cold and brutal terrain in the mountains. He completed an interservice transfer from the United States Marine Corps to the United States Air Force in 1954 where he served as an Air Traffic Controller. Throughout his Air Force career, James was assigned to 8 installations including in Thailand in support of the Vietnam War before retiring from Dyess Air Force Base on August 1, 1973. His next career took him to West Texas Wholesale and Supply Company where he served as a truckdriver and later as Assistant Manager of Warehouse Operations until he retired in 1995. During his retirement years, he drove Military Recruits from Abilene to the Dallas Military Entrance Processing Station.

James loved learning new things and was a licensed cable installer, welder, electrician, plumber, and air conditioning and heating technician. He loved spending time with his family, fishing, hunting, camping, gardening, walking at Redbud Park, and talking to people. He was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church on Buffalo Gap Road since 1973 and served as a long-time Deacon in the church. James is loved beyond measure by his family.

James married Hazel Earline Sandlin on March 10, 1953, in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. Hazel accompanied James throughout his military career and was a proud military spouse throughout their 63-year marriage.

James is proceeded in death by his wife Hazel, parents Jeff and Gertrude, three sisters Hazel, Etoyle and Reba, and one brother J.B.

James is survived by two children Rebecca and her spouse Carlena, and Melinda and her spouse Steven, five grandchildren Aaron, Cassandra, Joshua, Ciara and Stefan, six great grandchildren Cameron, Diego, Kipp, Sydney, Nathaniel and Tobias, and one great grandchild due in March 2024.

Pallbearers are Aaron Wheeler, Stefan Perritano, Steven Perritano, Diego Zuniga, Ryan Wallway and Rodney Knott.

The family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to the kind and caring staff at The Landing at Stone Oak Memory Care Center and Bristol Hospice in San Antonio.

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Foundation at https://alzfdn.org/donate/ or an animal welfare charity.