James Ray McCullough's Obituary
James Ray McCullough, Col. USAF (Ret.) January 19, 1924 - March 12, 2019.
At Falcons Landing, Potomac Falls, VA, Jim “slipped the surly bonds of earth” for the last time to eternally touch “the face of God.”
A son of Chicago, Jim accompanied by his mother Dorothy (nee Duerr) and brother (Frank) joyfully spent the summers of his youth at the Carlisle, PA, home of his grandparents because his father (James Mell) worked for the PA Railroad and could get free travel passage for his family. Jim used many of the skills he learned from his grandfather over those summers in building a house when he was just 25, and later when he developed his unique dioramas.
During his high school years, Jim achieved one of his most cherished goals, accomplishing the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Jim then enrolled in Wright Junior College where he met, and later married, Louise Soper with whom he would spend the next 71 years dancing through life before Louise predeceased Jim in 2016.
Over the years came Carol in 1948, Nancy in 1951, and Bill in 1955. Jim’s Air Force years led the family from Chicago to Albuquerque to Los Angeles to the Philippines to Maryland and finally to Virginia. Summers meant long road trips, camping in national parks, a world’s fair, Disneyland and visits with family across the country. It was a life filled with music, a love of beauty, reverence for nature, and a sense of adventure.
A member of the “greatest generation,” Jim joined the Air Force in 1943, serving his country through three wars over 31 years. Jim said he flew every kind of plane he could “talk my way into” – from bi-planes to jets, achieving senior command pilot rating. In New Mexico he was assigned to the Special Weapons Lab and spent a year on the Marshall Islands testing fusion weapons in 1953. During his service, Jim earned a BA from University of New Mexico and an MBA in Engineering Management from USC.
Jim received numerous commendations, including the Legion of Merit; Bronze Star for service in a combat zone; Air Medal for missions in combat zone; Air Force Commendation Medal With Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal; American Theatre Service Medal; European Theatre Service Medal; WWII Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal With Bronze Service Star; Air Force Reserve Medal; and a Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal.
Upon retirement from the Air Force, Jim, “rather than looking for paid employment,” as Louise put it, instead applied his love of American history and his skills as an artisan to develop a unique art form he called American Heritage Dioramas in Perspective: three-dimensional, illuminated interior scenes from Early Americana – a country store, apothecary, toy store, church, bird-carver’s workshop, and the like. Jim created every element of the forced- perspective scenes in a four-inch deep cabinet, with floors and walls sloped to create the illusion of greater depth. Jim crafted over 110 of these dioramas, now with owners in 26 states, Canada, Germany and New Zealand.
Jim and Louise were impressive swing dancers who travelled much of the world, always reveling in trying new foods, learning about new cultures and meeting new people. They shared a life-long commitment to service and community, finding countless ways to enrich the lives of people fortunate enough to encounter them. Wherever they lived they volunteered, they welcomed newcomers, led scout troops, brought musical performances into town, raised money for fire and rescue departments, and repaired wheelchairs -- among many other contributions. Both led lives of purpose; one of the greatest difficulties Jim faced in the last few years was not having this sense of purpose, not having a way to contribute as he always had.
Jim maintained a youthful approach to life, water-skiing, taking up SCUBA at age 65 and playing water volleyball up to age 90. He maintained his sense of humor, leavening the vicissitudes of dementia and advanced age and earning the affections of the wonderful staff at The Johnson Center’s Assisted Living unit who helped Jim live his last four years with dignity and kindness.
Jim’s love of, and pride in his family was a topic of discussion with anyone willing to listen. Left to cherish the memory of his life are his children, Carol Godding (Tal) of Seattle, Nancy (Tom Hicks) of Reston, and William (Didi) of Landenburg, PA., grandchildren Sean, Jason, Margy and Ben, and six great-grandchildren: Ryley, Giselle, Olivia, Arianna, Ellie and Everett. Grandsons Matthew and Jimmy predeceased their grandfather. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday April 9, 2019 at 2PM at Falcons Landing in Potomac Falls, VA. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will be at a later date. Please direct any donations to Loudoun Hunger Relief. Please share online condolences with the family at www.loudounfuneralchapel.com
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