James West

James Joe West was born November 10 ,1936 to James Clifford and Zella Sada Craft-West in Sacramento, CA. He grew up in Carmichael, CA and graduated from San Juan High School in 1955. During 1953 he joined the Army National Guard reserves in a tank company for two years before enlisting in the USAF security service as a radio communication specialist from May 1956 through May 1960 before being honorably discharged. He stayed actively involved in Civil Air Patrol for many years focused on downed aircraft search and rescue. He retired from Caltrans where he was a Photolog Coordinator for the CA State Department of Bus and Transportation for 30 years and was selected in July 1986 for Who's Who in Society.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 29 years Barbara Ann Hutson and Grandson Jason Michael Conn. He is survived by his daughters Tamara Lynn Conn of Paloma, Ca and Andrea Dawn Downs of Chengdu, China; grandson Jeremiah Scott Conn of Dayton, OR and has 6 great-grandsons; 3 brothers and 2 sisters.

He loved photography, bike riding and tearing things apart...many would call him the "gadget man". He attended many Air Shows and enjoyed studying space and overall flight history. He was a long term member of the Radio Amateur Club where he was known as N6aad and spent many a weekend with his Tall Club friends socializing and dancing.

His final wish to his family and friends "Above all, I wish you love!"