James Henry Soules ^{1 2}

  General Notes:

The Hamilton Herald-News May 2, 2002

Mr. Soules

Colonel James H. Soules, Ret. U. S. Air Force, 86, passed away at the Hamilton General Hospital April 27, 2002. Funeral services were held 10 a.m. April 30 at the First United Methodist Church in Hamilton with Rev. Elizabeth Kugel officiating and eulogy by Dennis Jones and Doug Smith. Burial followed in Oakwood Cemetery.

He was born August 23, 1915, at Star, the son of the late James (Jim) Soules and the late Margaret (Maggie) Boykin Soules.

On October 19, 1941, he was married to Maxine Harris at the First Baptist Church in Hamilton.

Mr. Soules graduated from John Tarleton at Stephenville and attended North Texas State. He entered the Army as an enlisted man gaining commission on May 29, 1941. He transferred to the Army Air Corp that later became the Air Force serving 22 years, three months, and two days of distinguished and honorable service, retiring with the rank of Colonel. He served in Europe during World War II as a pilot flying observation flights in advance of Patton's forces. He trained and flew many types of aircraft during his career.

Mr. Soules attended and excelled in many military schools and training programs. He served three years at the Pentagon as a specialist in organization and manpower where he was recognized for his outstanding ability in organizational skills. He served as base commander and Provost Marshall at Carswell Air Force Base and served as the basic training facility at Lackland Air Force Base. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Cluster, the Commendation Medal and other awards. He is a lifetime member of the Retired Officers Association.

After his distinguished military career he moved to Hamilton where he has been an active community leader. He continued his life of service to his community as a Hamilton City Council member, Mayor of Hamilton, Hamilton County Judge, Director of Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and served six years with the Governor's Department of Community Affairs. He helped develop the Hamilton Livestock Show for the youth and helped organize the Senior Center in Hamilton. In 1991, he a recognized as Outstanding Citizen of the year. James was a contributor to the United Care program and active in the Central Texas Council of Government.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Nell Johnson in 1980; three sisters, and two brothers.

Survivors include wife of Hamilton, a son Greg Soules and his wife Karen of Spring; four grandchildren, Laura Johnson, Doug Johnson, Christine Soules and Michael Soules four sistrs, Colla Clary and Florence Sheldon both of Goldthwaite, Virgie Sheldon of Evant and Lottie Morris of Mesquite and one brother Hugh Soules of Gatesville.

The family has desisgnated, the Hamilton Public Library or United Care.

Pallbearers were Bobby Stevens, Melvin Henkes, Ewald Wulf, Jimmy Lewis Soules, Gary Anglin, Kenneth Miller, Jim Crouch, and Travis Johnson.

Honorary pallbearers were Bob Jones, Rusty McCollum, Monroe Reinert, Tom J. Tompson, Jimmy Adams, Dr. Ping N. Tan, Luther Wood, Bert Schrank, Lynn Nicholson, Kenneth Gardner, Milton Harlik, Charles Barnes, Elmo Newsom, Porter Willis, Randy Murphree, Johnny Slough, and Howard Westmoreland.
Riley Funeral Home

James married Maxine Harris. (Maxine Harris was born on 3 Jun 1919 in Hamilton, Hamilton County, Texas, died on 23 Nov 2008 in Hamilton, Hamilton County, Texas and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Hamilton, Hamilton County, Texas ⁵.)