James Howard Hartline, Class of 1942
HARTLINE, Col. James Howard USAF (Ret.) The colonel embarked upon his last flight into the Wild Blue Yonder, when he left this world on September 12, 2012. He is going home to be with his Lord and to be met at the arrival gates of Heaven by his beloved wife, Geraldine (deceased March 2000) and a host of friends and family whom caught earlier flights. He is predeceased by sisters, Marian Jamborsky of Knoxville, Tenn., Shirley Fay Hartline of Knoxville, Tenn.; and brother, Robert Hartline of Cleveland, Tenn. Still standing on the tarmac waving goodbye include daughters, Anne Marston (Randy) of Chesterfield, Va., Mary Jo Gleaves (Tim) of San Jose, Calif.; son, James Hartline, Jr. of Nashville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Alissa and Ian Marston, also of Chesterfield, Va. and Charles J. Gleaves, also of San Jose, Calif.A and dedicated and loving caregivers, Barbara Hayter of Chesterfield, Va. and Barbie Brown, also of Chesterfield, Va. Other survivors include sister, Polly Wooten of Chicamauga, Ga., brother, Frank Hartline of Bryant, Ala. and sister-in-law, Virginia Hartline of Cleveland, Tenn.; along with many loving nieces and nephews. Col. Hartline was born to Granville Marion Hartline and Harriet Miller Hartline on February 23, 1925 in Knoxville, Tenn. He graduated from Farragut High School in 1942 and entered the Army Air Forces through the Aviation Cadet Program, where he earned his pilot wings. After the war ended, he left military service for a brief time to work for Eastern Airlines in Nashville, where he met his future wife, Geraldine Rice. They were married in July of 1949. He then rejoined the Air Force, where he flew over 100 fighter reconnaissance combat missions in Korea. For the next 25 years his tours of duty included Virginia, Georgia, Germany, and Alaska. Col. Hartline retired from active duty in 1975 while serving as Base Commander of Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska.
After retirement, he and Geraldine moved to Orlando, Fla., where they lived for 20 years before returning to Chesterfield, Va. in 1996. Col. Hartline was a 50 year member of Doric Lodge 732 F&AM, Nashville, Tenn.; a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and a charter member of the Al Aska Shriners, Anchorage, Alaska. James was well known for his great sense of humor, and was highly respected for his fairness in all aspects of his life. He both admired and was admired by his life long Air Force brothers. He will be greatly missed by those of us still waiting to board our own flights. The family would also like to express their appreciation to the staff at St. Francis Hospital, All About Care, Trust Care, and Hospice of Virginia for their help during this difficult time. Memorial services will be held at Unity Christ Church of Bon Air on Monday, September 17, 2012 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to charities of your choice.
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Published in Richmond Times-Dispatch on September 16, 2012
posted September 16th, 2012
