James Howard Fisher

Colonel Fisher was born on October 1, 1916 in Shawnee, Oklahoma to Rose Criss Fisher and Harold Martin Fisher. He married the love of his life, Doris Lundgren Fisher in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 4, 1941. They were married for 63 years until parted by her death in July 2005.

He was a career bomber pilot for the United States Air Force, flying B-17s, B-29s, B-36s, and B-52s. During World War II his B-17 was shot down on a bomb run to Berlin. He was a prisoner of war (POW) in Stalag Luft 3 for a year. During the forced march through Dresden he escaped and succeeded in reaching liberated Paris. He was repatriated on Doris's birthday April 22, 1945. In recognition of his service he received the Purple Heart and The Air Medal for Meritorious Achievement in Aerial Flight.

He was a founding member of St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Austin. He spent countless hours working on the building committee to secure a permanent location for this congregation, and his legacy lives on in the beautiful sanctuary located on a scenic hillside location in South Austin.

Survivors include a son, James Harold Fisher and his wife Lisa Dawn-Fisher of Austin; a daughter, Linda Fisher and her husband Richard Cressen of New York; grandchildren, Emily Harris and her husband, Bolden Harris, of Round Rock, Elliot Robinson of Austin; and great-grandchildren, Dominique Wilkins and Bivo Harris of Round Rock. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Mable Lundgren Venable of Bellflower, California.

A gathering of friends and family will take place from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 16, 2014, at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 South Congress. Services will take place at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 17, 2014, at St. Alban's Episcopal Church located at 11819 IH 35; Austin, TX 78749. Burial will follow at Capital Parks in Pflugerville.