Col. James "Jim" Donald Jefferson, USAF (Ret.)

Colonel (Ret.) James “Jim” Donald Jefferson, long time resident of Huntington Beach, CA, was born April 20, 1933, and passed on September 26, 2024. Jim is lovingly remembered by his wife of 72 years, Judy, their two sons, Mark (Gloria) and Andy (Terrie); grandchildren Devlin (Michelle), Taylor (Conrad), Kelley, Erin and Claire; and great-grandchildren Cole, Carter, Chloe and Willa.

The son of James Dewy and Hazel Jefferson, Jim was reared in Champaign, Illinois, alongside his older sister, Betty. On September 28th, 1952, Jim married Judith “Judy” Carothers of Champaign. Shortly after receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois (and later a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Nebraska-Omaha), Jim was commissioned into the United States Air Force (USAF). He served as a B-52 bomber navigator during the Cold War. His assignments took the Jefferson family to Texas, Alabama, California, New Mexico, Maine, Nebraska, and Belgium. Jim’s 27 years of service included strategic planning leadership positions in Thailand during the Viet Nam War, with the Strategic Air Command, and with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Jim retired from the USAF in 1982.

Following retirement from the USAF, Jim was recruited for another leadership position with the Northrop Grumman Corporation. This second career involved working on the initial development of the B-2 bomber. Jim retired from Northrop in 1995.

Residents of Huntington Beach for 42 years, Jim and Judy enjoyed golf trips around the world and baseball, sharing decades of Angels season tickets. Their grandchildren were treated to countless trips to Disneyland and the beach, and Ruby’s on the pier. Jim’s avocation was his beautiful backyard, where he spent many hours tending to his flowers. A member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, CA, Jim valued the connections he made through his participation in community outreach programs.

Jim was truly loved, and will be sorely missed by everyone he touched.

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