J.V. Vinyard

J V Vinyard
J V Vinyard

J.V.  (“Jay”) Vinyard of Amarillo, Texas passed away October 30th. Graveside services will be held 3:00 Monday, November 8th at Llano Cemetery.

Jay was a beloved and dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. While his passing saddens us, we are filled with joy that he touched our lives with his life, his knowledge, his generosity and his patriotism. Overflowing with character and integrity that was incomparable by any measure, he was truly a member of the “Greatest Generation”.

Jay was born August 7th, 1923, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He served during WWII in the Army Air Corps as a pilot assigned to the Air Transport Command. He served in the China-Burma-India Theater July 1944-February 1945, and flew 87 missions over the “Hump” between India and China.

He married Sarah Caroline Tucker on March 7, 1945 at Monticello, Arkansas. They raised three sons and had 60 years together before her passing in 2005.

Jay was an air traffic controller for the Federal Aviation Administration. In 1984 he retired as chief traffic controller in Amarillo.

He was a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, and a member and past president of Amarillo Downtown Lions Club. He managed and was president of the Amarillo administrative office of the CBI Hump Pilots Association.

Jay married Ruby Pipes of Choudrant, Louisiana March 28, 2011. In Choudrant he made many new friends and became part of Ruby’s family. He was a member of the Ruston Lions Club, and attended Longstraw Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by parents Clyde and Hazel Vinyard, wife Sarah Vinyard, and sons James V. Vinyard and Michael C. Vinyard .

Survivors include wife Ruby Pipes Vinyard of Choudrant, Louisiana; one son Robert C. Vinyard of Austin and wife Becky; daughter-in-law Diane Vinyard of Amarillo; daughter-in-law Rena Vinyard of Albuquerque; and sister Jean Pedersen of Bellevue, Nebraska.

Nine grandchildren: Kevin Wilson, Damon Vinyard, Dale Jones, Margaret Diaz, Paul Vinyard, Kenneth Vinyard, Micah Kane Vinyard, Amy Vinyard and Joshua Vinyard and eight great-grandchildren.

For those who wish to make a donation in Jay’s memory the family suggests the Lions Club. Amarillo Downtown Lions Club Foundation (www.amalions.org); or Ruston Lions Club (Contact Dr. Robert Daulton 318-245-1497 or [email protected]).

3 Replies to “J.V. Vinyard”

  1. “Uncle Jay” was a very interesting man who never stopped studying and learning. He was one of those rare individuals who literally “lived until he died.” I was blessed to know him.

  2. Our organization had the great privilege of meeting and visiting China with “J”. His contribution to our freedom can’t be underestimated. Flying the Hump was the most dangerous flying in WWII. “J”s 87 trips are a testament to his honor and courage. Indeed one of the best of our “Greatest Generation.

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