James Rollin Wiles

He was born on October 30, 1942, in Kennett, MO, and was raised in the nearby small farming community of Senath, MO. He was preceded in death by his father Willie E. Wiles, his mother, Wilma Raines Horner Wiles, and an older brother who died at birth and is survived by his loving wife Mildred Wiles, son Mark Wiles, uncle, Charles Horner, aunt, Glenda Horner, and numerous cousins. He attended Senath elementary, junior high, and high school, graduating in 1960. He attended the University of Missouri, majoring in agriculture where he worked on the University experimental farms to sustain himself and pay for his school fees. In 1962, he transferred to Arkansas State College in Jonesboro Arkansas and for 2 years continued to study agriculture.

In 1964, shortly after the Bay of Pigs incident on Cuban shores, he entered the US Air Force and completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. In May 1964, he was assigned to Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin Texas where he served in the comptroller’s office in military pay. Six months later he was transferred to the Financial Accounting/Stock Funds section where he was over commercial funds and Aviation Fuel accounts. Following the assassination of President Kennedy and the inauguration of President Johnson, he carried out various duties at the Presidential ranch. After attending technical school in Wichita Falls, he returned to Bergstrom as a member of the Base Conversion Team of Supply Systems where his team upgraded supply systems and he was honored to become a member of the Second Air Force Conversion Team. In the Spring of 1966, he met Mildred Holmquist from Pittsburgh Pa, who was a nurse at the base hospital. They fell in love and were married Dec 27, 1966. After his discharge from the Air Force, he was employed by the City of Austin in the Traffic and Transportation department which later became the Public Works and Transportation Department. He served as a transportation engineering assistant for many years and retired in 1998 with 36 years of credited service. At retirement, he received recognition for his outstanding service and commitment. He received his BA in Sociology from Saint Edwards University in 1973.

“Rollin”, as he was known by all, was a loving husband, father, caring son-in-law, and friend to many. He grew up learning the merits and importance of a hard day’s work and wages early while he helped his dad on the farm. He had a great sense of humor and loved bringing laughter and music to others. He had a beautiful voice and taught himself how to play the harmonica and guitar, which he often played in small bands in his younger years while singing. He also sang in a quartet and the Austin Civic Chorus for several years. He also was very gifted and creative with the tooling of both leather and wood.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com for the Wiles family.