James R. Sherman

1932 - 2015

James R. Sherman

Virginia Beach - Colonel James R. Sherman, USMC, Retired, passed away on January 23, 2015, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

Born on April 14, 1932, he met his wife, Alice, in third grade and they began dating on the night he graduated from Lima High School in 1949. Following graduation, he reported to Pensacola, Florida for Naval Flight Training as an aviation cadet and received his wings and commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marines Corps in 1953. Immediately following his commissioning, he returned to New York to marry Alice, who was still enrolled in Keuka College studying nursing. In his thirty years of service to his country, he flew twenty types of aircraft and logged 3,500 flight hours; however, the highlight of his career was flying the F-4 Phantom. During his thirty year career, he served as a platoon leader, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division; flight instructor for Skyraider Aircraft, Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, TX; assistant plans officer, G-3, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Norfolk, VA; instructor, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk; assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, 1ST Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; and assistant chief of staff, G-3, at Fleet Marine Force Atlantic. Colonel Sherman served two tours during the Vietnam War, the first as a pilot and administration officer with VMFA-531 and the second as squadron executive officer and commanding officer of VMFA-334, both at Danang. Throughout his thirty year career, he and Alice traveled across the United States, living in various places including Corpus Christi, TX; Cherry Point, NC; Woodbridge, VA; College Park, MD, where he received his Bachelor's Degree; Laguna Hills, CA; and Morehead City, NC. In 1969, Jim and Alice with their six children in tow, moved to Norfolk, VA for his assignment to the Armed Forces Staff College. Nine months later, they purchased their home in Virginia Beach where they would spend the next 42 years. At this point in his career, Jim decided it was in his family's best interest for him to deploy and not uproot his children again. He would be assigned to Okinawa and to the National War College, commuting on weekends from the latter. As a result, five of his six children would graduate from Kempsville High School, with the sixth graduating from Green Run High School due to redistricting; a feat Alice would self-proclaim "a Marine Corps record." Jim would retire in 1981 after earning the following decorations: the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", the Meritorious Service Medal with numeral "17" and the Navy Commendation Medal with Bronze Star. Following his retirement, Colonel Sherman pursued his dream of small business ownership, purchasing a bar, and then two laundromats. In addition, he helped to develop war games with a government contractor. After his final retirement, Jim and Alice enjoyed traveling to visit children and grandchildren.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 61 years, Alice Sherman, his two daughters, Peggy Griffin (Dean), and Stephanie Dallaire (Steve), and three sons James (Susan), Alan (Laura), and Todd (Julie), sixteen grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Jim was predeceased by his daughter Barbara Jeans (Rob).

The family would like to thank the staff of the Memory Enhancement Unit at the Terrace at Beth Shalom Home. Their outstanding care and compassion made his final deployment more bearable for all his loved ones. Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the Wounded Warrior Project.

The family will receive friends at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Kempsville Chapel on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The funeral service will be conducted at Providence Presbyterian Church on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 at 3 p.m. by Rev. Jeff Bell and Rev. Ted Hanawalt. Interment will be at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, 2015. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com