James Lee Box, loving husband, father and grandfather, died suddenly on March 26, 2016. Jim was born January 12, 1934 in El Dorado, Arkansas. He was predeceased by his parents, John H. and Valerian Wootton Box, and siblings, Millie Lumpkin and John H. Box, Jr., and baby sisters Annie Christine Box and Linda Sue Box. Survivors include Linda Smith Box, devoted wife of 32 years, and children and grandchildren: John Russell Box (Sara Mifsud) of Houston, Ruth Leanne Richi (Ozzie), Robert Jeffrey Box (Anne-Marie Lake) of Georgetown, TX, Jackie Lawson, Jenn Lawson of Nashville, Charlie Sellers of Houston, Hayler Hearne (Josh), Timothy Lawson, and Connor Box of Georgetown. Other survivors include numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Jim earned a BSEE from University of Oklahoma and MSE from UCLA, with further post graduate UCLA studies and education continuing throughout his life. He was registered as a Professional Engineer in Alabama and previously in California, where he worked for North American Aviation in Downey, CA. From 1955-1957 he served in the US Air Force as communication officer. In the early 1960s, he came to the Rocket City to work for Milton Cummings at Brown Engineering, which became Teledyne Brown Engineering, led by Joe Moquin, where Jim served in several defense areas for more than 40 years, retiring in 2006.
In the defense programs Jim was a Guidance and Control expert, whose group worked the guidance and control problems for interceptor vehicles during the early research and development into ballistic missile interceptors. Programs he supported included Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance Contract (SETEC), Extended Range Interceptor (ERINT), Flexible Light-weight Agile Guidance (FLAGE) interceptor, and Exoatmospheric Reentry Vehicle Interceptor System (ERIS), and the Patriot missile program.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Jim was certified in single and multiengine instrument airplane and transport plane, multiengine land commercial airplane and single engine land and sea glider. He was also a certified flight instructor. In addition to his technical expertise, Jim loved spending time with family and grandchildren and his four-legged furry friends, the dogs. He enjoyed radio-controlled airplanes, any techy toys and studying the stars. He was an avid reader and couldn’t put down an particularly challenging puzzle. Music was important to him all his life; he played piano, sang in church choirs and each week listened to a different classical cd in his car. He was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church, still singing in the Sanctuary Choir.
Jim, Dad, Grandpa,
You never sought to be
At the center of things,
But here you were –
Like you’ve always been –
Steady in your faith,
Generous in your love.
Your values are the quiet cornerstone
Upon which our family was built
And that’s something
We’re deeply grateful for.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, April 1, 2016 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 607 Airport Road, followed by the funeral service at 11 and interment in Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to TUMC, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, or the charity of choice.
