James Norman Knox

James “Jim” Norman Knox died February 24, 2024 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. James was born to James Elgy Knox and Zelda Knox on September 10, 1938 in Hulbert, Oklahoma. He attended Siloam Springs High School in Arkansas before working offshore oil fields in Louisiana. In 1961, James married Jacquelyn Mae Kay of Siloam Springs. James enlisted with the United States Army and completed the Airborne School, later serving in Germany with the 8th Infantry Division. In 1963, James graduated from the Warrant Officer Fixed Wing Aviator Course (WOFWAC) in Fort Rucker, Alabama, as a member of Class 63-2. James served with the 18^th Aviation Company for two tours in Vietnam, flying troops and supplies in DeHavilland Otter aircraft between U.S. airfields and remote combat bases throughout the theater. After Vietnam, James was an army flight instructor and private pilot. In 1983, James became a mechanic—and later supervisor—for American Airlines at its Tulsa International Airport maintenance base, from which he retired after 20 years of service.

James was preceded in death by his wife, Jacquelyn Mae Knox, in 2003. He is survived by siblings Faye Kaufman, John Calvin Knox and wife Leslie, and Lualice Durnal and husband Duane Durnal; children James Roy Knox and wife Mona, Jacquelyn Renea Payne and husband Joseph Payne, James Don Knox and wife Patty, and Deena Renee Dickens and husband Roger Dickens; grandchildren Ryan Nolan and wife Christina, Trevor Schrader and wife Meghan, Andrea Depperschmidt and husband Dustin Depperschmidt, Stetson Payne, Jaxon Knox, Benjamin Knox, and Josephine Knox; great-grandchildren Mackenzie, Christian, and Mackenzie Nolan; Mason, Riley, Isabella, and Tyler Schrader; Dax, Winters, Maverick, Cannon, Indy, Preacher, and Sunni Depperschmidt.

The family will host a celebration of life from 1:00-4:00 p.m. on March 16 at the Sand Springs United Methodist Church, 101 West 38^th Street in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. March 29 at Fayetteville National Cemetery, 1000 S Lt Col Leroy Pond Ave, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.