James Richard embodied his favorite poem of Desiderata!

He had many accomplishments and endearing qualities, but his striving to be a good man cannot be understated.

Jimmy's life began in San Antonio, TX, on October 31st, 1949. His father, Edward, an Officer in the United States Air Force and his mother, Mathilda, led their family in a very nomadic early life. Accompanied by his older brother John, and his younger twin sisters Patricia and Diane, they would traverse the globe living in multiple places within the continental United States such as New York, Utah, New Mexico, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Oregon, and California. They were stationed overseas numerous times within the Netherlands and Germany. Additionally, they were stationed in Hawaii at the time it was granted statehood.

After graduation from Loara High School in Anaheim, California, Jim opted to enlist in the United States Air Force in 1968, during the height of the Vietnam War. After graduation from Basic Military Training and Technical Training, Airman Richard was stationed in Sacramento, California. He received orders to Thule Greenland, where he was assured there was a girl behind every tree. Unfortunately he discovered a severe lack of trees in Greenland. His next assignment would be at Luke AFB in Phoenix, Arizona. In Arizona, he would marry his first wife, Cheryl, the mother of his two sons David and Daniel. He later received orders to Wiesbaden, Germany where his oldest son, David, was born. Then it was back to Arizona, this time to Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson, where his youngest son Daniel was born. Next it was orders again back to Germany, this time at Rhein Mein AB. During this assignment, the marriage to Cheryl was dissolved and Jim took sole custody of his two children. His final assignment would be to Offutt AFB, Omaha, Nebraska. It was in Nebraska that he met and married Janice where the blending of families occurred as she had two sons of her own, Scott and Kirk Eaton.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1988, Jim desired to return to Phoenix, Arizona, where he felt most drawn to throughout his travels. He worked for the Arizona State Parole Board, and subsequent jobs until he officially retired. Unfortunately, due to irreconcilable differences his marriage to Jan dissolved in 2013.

In August of 2024, upon learning Jim had atrial fibrillation and a mass was discovered to be cancerous in his lungs, he moved to Decatur, Texas to be closer to his son Daniel and his wife Cara. It was in this short time Jim succumbed to the cancer and failing heart. He passed away on December 20th of 2024.

Pop enjoyed maintaining his home and living a peaceful, quiet, and simplistic life. He enjoyed his frequent beer and smoke breaks after accomplishing his errands or tasks. He enjoyed talking and being in the company of his boys, Dave and Dan, and would always lend a hand or provide sound advice when needed. He cherished his grandchildren Ryan and Austin, and would boast of his great grandchildren Rylee and Hazel. He was a true patriot and was extremely proud of his service to this country. He took pride in the fact that his son Daniel, and his grandchildren Ryan and Austin, followed in his footsteps and served or are serving in the USAF today. Jim was optimistic by nature and generally had a good disposition.

Please join family and friends for military honors and burial at Dallas / Fort Worth National Cemetery on Monday January 6, 2025, at 2:00p.m. If you attend, please be at Jeter & Son Funeral Home, 4830 W. Illinois Ave, Dallas, Texas by 1:30p.m.