James Henry Smith

James Henry Smith was born February 14, 1931 to Robert and Mathilda Smith in Norma, North Dakota. He met his future wife Sharon Fitch the year his mother taught at Wheaton, a one-room, ND prairie school. He was 11 years old and Sharon was 9. They were married 11 years later and were married for 68 years. James and Sharon were blessed with 4 children, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. In 1948 James earned an associate degree in engineering at NDSF. That fall he entered the US Naval Academy, earning a BS degree in electrical engineering in 1952. Upon graduation he transferred into the Air Force and spent an additional year in pilot training. In 1962 he earned a MS in aeronautical engineering at the AF Institute of Technology. James and Sharon were married December 26, 1953 in Salem, Oregon. His years in the US Air Force would take them all over the world, beginning  in 1954 as a pilot instructor at Bryan AFB, Texas. In 1957 he transferred to Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio as a design engineer on the Air Force X-15 among his jobs. After a year in the Aleutian Islands he was sent to Colorado Springs, Colorado where he worked with NORAD in Cheyenne Mountain tracking satellites. He was next sent to Viet Nam and Thailand where he flew reconnaissance missions. Back to Colorado, then 2 years in Turkey where he was US Commander of Middle East Communications for 2 years. Two additional years in Germany with the same command, then to Minot AFB for 6 months to retire in 1980. During his career James earned numerous service awards. Outstanding among them, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Bronze Star. The family retired to Oregon and James spent the next several years between cattle farming in Oregon and grain farming in North Dakota.James passed away December 2, 2021, at the age of 90, at his home in Salem, Oregon. He is very lovingly remembered by Sharon, their 4 children, Greg, Debra, Lori, and Brad, 7 grandchildren, Eryn, Robert, Ryan, Cooper, Kiersten, Connor, and Christina, their 2 great grandchildren, Kanin and Petra, and his siblings, Lydia, Merilyn, and Demaris. The family thanks you for your love and support during this difficult time, at their request in lieu of flowers or gifts please consider donations to Church on the Hill 2707 Maranatha Ct. SE, Turner, OR 97392.