Lt. Col. James D. Webb, USAF Ret.
SAVANNAH, GA. James Donald Webb, Lt. Col. USAF, Retired, died on April 18th, 2008 at the home of his son Gary in the care of Odyssey Health Care and Comfort Keeper after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 80 years old.
James was born in Pendergrass, Georgia on November 3rd, 1927. He is preceded in death by his parents Roy Roscoe and Callie Mae Allison Webb, a brother, Edward Webb and a sister Evelyn McGee. Upon graduation from Winder Barrow High School he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and was stationed with the occupational troops in Okinawa, Japan. He returned to the states as a Staff Sgt. in 1949. Following his initial enlistment, he went back to school at the University of Georgia where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1952. After graduation, he received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force and began his first assignment in Amarillo, TX.
James met his wife, Doreen M. Eberhard, after corresponding for several years as pen pals. In 1953, Doreen immigrated to America from London, England and they were married in Clovis, New Mexico. They remained married for 52 years, until the death of Doreen in 2004. His career in the USAF took him and his family all over the world. He received assignments at the American Embassy in Bonn, Germany, NATO in Oslo, Norway, and many other locations both in Europe and state side. In 1966 he received his Master in Business Science from the University of Colorado. In 1967, he did a tour in Vietnam where he earned a Bronze Star and 4 Service Stars during the Tet Offenses and Air Offensive Campaigns. He retired from the Air Force after his last assignment at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1980 after 30 years of service. After retiring he moved back to his home state of Georgia and settled in Watkinsville to be closer to his family.
Survivors include: James' brother Grady Webb of Ocala, FL; sister Dot Savage of Winder, GA; two sons James J. Webb Susan of Yorktown, VA and Gary D. Webb Deborah of Savannah, GA; two daughters, Dr. Katherine Valicoff Ron of Safety Harbor, FL and Carolyn Elster Rick of Bogart , GA; and seven grandchildren, one step grandchild and two great-grandchildren.
James was a loving Husband and Father. He lived his life as a humble and quiet man. He left this world the same way.
A Wake for James will be held at the home of his son, Gary Webb at 102 Country Club Drive on Sunday, April 20th at 5 PM. Memorial Services will be held at Bridges Funeral Home in Athens, Georgia on April 25th. James will be buried at Arlington Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations be made to Odyssey Health Care or New Hope Fellowship Church Memorial Baptist Church.