James Glen Fussell, retired U.S. Air Force colonel, of Harrison, died Sunday, April 17, 2005.
He was born Dec. 12, 1915, in Dickson, Tenn., son of the late Charles Fussell and Georgia Tidwell Fussell.
He was preceded in death by his sister and brother, Willie Mae Fussell Setliffe and Leland Tidwell Fussell.
He is survived by a sister, Margaret Isabella Fussell, currently of Parkwood Nursing Home, Chattanooga.
Col. Fussell served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force, entering in 1942 and amassing more than 8,000 flying hours in bombers, heavy bombers and troop carrier aircraft. He served in World War II with the 54th Troop carrier for four years taking part in the first all-instrument flight operation on the Aleutian Chain in the Aleutian/Alaska Theater. He then returned to Barksdale Field in Shreveport, La., training pilots in the B-17 Flying Fortress in the air training command.
He graduated from Command Staff School in Montgomery, Ala., in 1952, the Air University and also attended Trinity College in San Antonio, Texas.
He then served as public information officer and later as B-29 Squadron Commander in 1952 at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He was based in Okinawa and flew B-29 combat missions over Korea with the 19th Bomb Wing. He returned to the United States in 1953, where he was assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing as a B-36 squadron commander at Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, S.D.
In 1957 he attended B-52 training at Castle AFB, Calif., and later served as deputy commander for operations in the 4134th Strategic Air Command Wing at Mather AFB, Sacramento, Calif.
In 1960 he was transferred to Yokota, Japan, where he served as director of operations for the Third Bomb Wing, the 14th Air Force Division. He then transferred to Clark AFB in the Philippines, where he served as deputy commander for operations in the 13th Air Force with primary focus of managing the early stages of the air war in Vietnam.
In 1964 he returned to the U.S. where he became chief of flight safety for the USAF inspector general’s office, where among other duties he oversaw a crash investigation of the then top secret experimental aircraft - the SR71. He retired from the USAF in March 1969. His military honors include Legion of Merit, Air Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, Commendation Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater, Outstanding Unit Award among others.
After retirement, Col. Fussell returned to Chattanooga, where he resided in Harrison until his death at home following a long illness.
During retirement he was very active in community affairs. He was a member of the Chattanooga Exchange Club for 35 years, where he served as president and Tennessee district director. He received the Book of Golden Deeds from the Exchange Club for his participation in community affairs. He was a member of the Retired Officers Association and was president of the club in 1979. He was a charter member of the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department and a charter member of the Savannah Valley Water Company board of governors. He served as the officer of elections for the Harrison precinct for 12 years. He served on an advisory board for Lovell Field and was an ardent supporter of the Bethel Bible Village, directing a professional horse show fundraiser for Bethel for three years.
His love of life was wide and full. He was well known for his patriotism, his love of his family as well as vegetable gardening, golf and music, being accomplished on both the piano and ukulele. He was also dedicated to the made-in-America Saturn automobile.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Elizabeth Kelley Fussell, of Harrison; son, James Glen Fussell Jr., of Orrington, Maine; and daughter, Mary Margaret Fussell Dykes, of Stone Mountain, Ga. He leaves five grandchildren, Army Capt. James Glen Fussell III, currently deployed in Afghanistan, Genevieve Elizabeth Fussell, of San Francisco, Samuel Hawkins Dykes, of Rome, Ga., Delia Johnson Dykes, of Stone Mountain, and Charles John Fussell, of Orrington.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home.
Burial will be in Chattanooga National Cemetery with full military honors.
The family will receive friends from 5 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home on Highway 153.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bethel Bible Village.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.mem.com.