James “Jim” Franklin Lancaster, 78, of Yadkinville, died on Thursday Oct. 19, 2017 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

He was born June 8, 1939 in Louisburg to the late John Mack and Otelia Johnson Glasgow Lancaster. Mr. Lancaster was retired from the US Air Force with the rank of colonel and 30 years of service.  He enlisted win May of 1958, earned his commission through Officer Candidate School at Texas in 1961, and was awarded his wings in 1962 at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and other conflicts throughout the world with more than 5,000 hours as pilot of the C-130 aircraft, 735 of which were combat hours, and 180 combat support hours during Vietnam. He was stationed throughout the world including Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, and was later assigned as Air Staff Action Officer for Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. His military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. He retired as the 314th Tactical Airlift Wing Deputy Commander for Resource Management, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. During his service in Little Rock, he served as chairman of the board for the Little Rock Air Force Base Federal Credit Union, where he was instrumental in the development and growth of the credit union throughout the state. Col. Lancaster graduated with his bachelor’s degree in 1976 and completed his master’s degree in international relations from Troy State University in 1978. Upon retirement, he lived several years with his wife in Apex, until recently moving to Yadkinville, where he became a member of Maplewood Baptist Church.

He was also preceded in death by his brother, Edward Harold Lancaster.

Surviving: his wife of 55 years, Patricia Luke Lancaster of the home; 2 sons, Jimmy (Penny) Lancaster, Yadkinville; Frank (Laura) Lancaster, Sherwood, Ark.; grandchildren, Jeremy Phillips (Andrea Fratto) of Clarksburg, W.Va.; Patrick Lancaster, Yadkinville; Sloane Lancaster and fiancé Dustin Keathley, Sherwood; Jessica Lancaster, Yadkinville; Madeline Lancaster, Sherwood; great-grandchildren, Eva, Joseph and Jamison Fratto-Phillips; sister, Charlotte Faye Phelps of Cary; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29 at Maplewood Baptist Church in Yadkinville by his son, the Rev. Jimmy Lancaster and full military honors by the U.S. Air Force. A time of fellowship with the family will follow the service.   

Memorials: Project RACK, PO Box 576, Yadkinville,   27055; or the Yadkin Camp of Gideons International, PO Box 2451, Yadkinville,   27055.

Condolences: www.gentryfuneralservice.com.