James "Jim" English

James "Jim" English was born to Florence and Edgar English on February 26, 1924 in Dallas, TX. At the age of 90, Jim passed into heavenly rest and into the arms of his Lord and Savior on February 3, 2015. His wife and the love of his life, Mary Ann, was at his side.


Jim was a common man of uncommon intellect, heart, and humility. He left his heart on many.


Jim graduated high school from Forest Avenue High School in Dallas in 1941. He went into the Army Air Corp in 1943. He was a Veteran of World War II and served as a tail gunner on a B-24. His plane was shot down over Italy. An Italian family found him and asked for his parachute, as silk was hard to find at that time due to the Air Force using most of what was available. He was honorably discharged in 1947 and come to Galveston, TX where he met his future wife, Mary Ann Davis. They were married on May 29, 1948 at the First Presbyterian Church in Galveston.


Jim graduated from the University of Texas in January of 1950 with a BS in Electrical Engineering. He and his family moved to Lake Jackson when he went to work for Ethyl Dow in 1957. He went to work for Dow Chemical in 1966 until his retirement in 1989.


Jim was a Deacon at Willow Drive Baptist Church for many years. He and Mary Ann loved to travel. They visited many countries and enjoyed their sight-seeing trips across the US.


Jim was preceded in death and greeted in Heaven by his mother and father; brother, Carl English; sister, Virginia Johnson; son, Chip English; and granddaughter, Wendy Coffee.


He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Ann; his four daughters, Sue Coffee (Wendell), Sandra Byers (Bobby), Cathy Benavidez (Rick), Laurie Clardy (Rick); 12 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; three brothers; and two sisters.


Arrangements are by the Turner family with visitation at Lakewood Funeral Chapel on Thursday, February 5, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Willow Drive Baptist Church on Friday, February 6, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Scott McKay officiating.


Pallbearers will be Jim's grandsons, Kevin Coffee, Rick Benavidez, Beau Byers, Nick Benavidez, Tim King, and Andrew Beall. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim's granddaughters, Wendy Coffee, who is honoring him face to face, Julie Byers, Alissa Beall and Stephanie Clardy.

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