James Stuart Barfield

James Stuart Barfield was born on February 23, 1948. He went to High School in New Jersey and he attended Glassboro State University, where he played football as an offensive lineman. He graduated with a BA in History and a minor in English. During his younger years, Jim was a part-time Disc Jockey and loved to recite trivia concerning many recording artists. 

Jim was born to be a pilot. He loved everything about flying and he joined the USAF in September 1970 and attended Officer Training School in San Antonio, Texas, and graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant in December 1970. As an Air Force Officer, Jim attended Helicopter Flight Training with the United States Army Aviation School at Fort Wolters, Texas, and earned his USAF pilot wings at Fort Rucker, Alabama in September 1971. 

Jim would go on to fly the USAF CH-3E at Shaw AFB and Osan AB, Korea. Jim was also selected for an Exchange Officer assignment with the Canadian Air Force, where he taught helicopter flight training in the Jet Ranger. Jim went from that assignment to Webb AFB, Texas where he attended the Fixed-Wing Qualification Course and graduated with an assignment to fly the F-4E. 

At last Jim had earned his way to become a fighter pilot in the USAF. He had several assignments with the F-4E in Spain and also flew the F-16C at Shaw AFB, SC. Jim’s flying and expertise with the F-16C brought him to his final assignment as the USAF Chief Pilot for inspecting F-16Cs as they came out of the Lockheed Factory in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Jim retired from the USAF in December 1990 as a Lieutenant Colonel with 20 years of distinctive service. Jim immediately started a second flying career as a pilot for UPS and flew the Boeing 747 world-wide until retiring from that company in 2013. 

Jim has been a resident of Weatherford, Texas, since 1988. Jim and his family would move to several different houses in Weatherford but his passion in life was his beloved lake house. He loved to entertain friends and family at all times of the year. Jim was a great fighter pilot and a man of integrity. Jim came to know his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ near the end of his life and he was baptized in the lake in front of his beautiful lake house. 

Jim was predeceased by his mom, Mattie Bishoff, and is survived by his sisters, Laurie Jann and Robin Smith, as well as his daughter, Kathy Dunham and her husband, Dan, and Jim’s grandson, Weston. He is also survived by his son, David and his wife, Keri, and Jim’s grandchildren, Colin, Sydney, and Logan. He is also survived by his Guardian Angel - Nancy Thurmon.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 20, 2021, in the Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel. 

If you do choose to attend please keep in mind the CDC recommendations, wear a mask, and practice social distancing.