CMSgt James A. Lynn , USAF (Ret.) 79, Minot, died Monday, August 6, 2018, in a Minot hospital.

James Lynn was born January 20, 1939 in Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania to Geary and Myrtle (Pheasant) Lynn. He grew up and attended elementary school in Rockhill Furnace and graduated from Orbisonia High School in 1956.

James enlisted into the US Air Force on June 4, 1956 and received his basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas. He was transferred and assigned to the 16 FIS at Naha AB in Okinawa, Japan, where he was instrumental with the conversion from the F-86d to the F-102A aircraft. He returned to the US in May 1960 and was assigned to the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB in North Carolina. He was part of a number of aircraft conversions ending with the F-4 aircraft and was selected as the Airman of the Year in 1963. James was appointed to the US Military Assistance Advisory Group in Iran in February of 1969 as a part of the first USAF team to assist the Imperial Iranian Air Force transition to the F-4 aircraft. In April of 1970, James was assigned to the 5 FIS at Minot AFB, in North Dakota as NCOIC, Pneudraulic Shop. Following a short assignment in Korat RTAFB in Thailand, he returned to Minot where he served the remainder of his career as Maintenance Superintendent until the inactivation of the 5th Fighter Squadron and his retirement and honorable discharge in 1988. As a civilian he continued his work at the Minot AFB working as a civilian for Lockheed Martin Corporation until he joined Minot State University in the custodial department working for a number of years until he retired.

James was united in marriage to Louise J. Holden on November 30, 1956 in Hagerstown, MD. This union was blessed with a daughter, Tracey. They have called Minot their home for the last 48 years.

James loved the outdoors. He loved to hunt, especially for deer with his favorite hunting partner, Dean Wilson. He enjoyed camping with his family along with woodworking and bowling with his wife Louise in their younger years. They were weekend and summer travelers enjoying trips to many national parks and a special trip to Alaska. James loved spending time with his family and treasured his last years enjoying his great grandchildren. He will be missed by all who were blessed to share in his life.

James is survived by his loving wife of nearly 62 years, Louise Lynn, Minot; daughter, Tracey (Jeff) Wallstrum, Minot; grandchildren, Krista (James) Doty Opstedal, Minot, Nathaniel (Isabella) Doty, Minot, Blake (Kellie) Wallstrum, Leslie Wallstrum, Tayler Wallstrum, all of Minot; great-grandchildren, Rylan, Remington, Taelyn, Jude and Ander; brother, Warren Lynn, Harrisburg, PA along with numerous nieces and nephews including, Vickie Xanthopoulos, Lori Williams and Joe Gearhart.

James was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Martha Laird and Bernadine Gearhart.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 10, 2018 at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Interment: North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 10, 2018.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2018, from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorial donations are preferred to a veteran's organization of the donor's choice or to Kalix of Minot, ND.