James Conway Hudson

James Conway Hudson passed away March 24, 2007 at Providence Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00p on Friday, March 30 at Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Leavenworth National Cemetery at 2:30p with full military honors. He was born June 19, 1921 in Santa Rosa, Missouri to Gertrude Conway Hudson and George Alvin Hudson. Growing up in Weatherby and Kansas City, MO, he was involved with Boy Scouts and DeMolay. He and his mother moved to Bethel, Kansas after the death of his father. Graduating from Washington High School, James joined the Army Air Corps. He became a B17 Flying Fortress Bomber Pilot and was assigned to England. In May 1943, he was shot down while flying a mission over enemy lines, was captured by German troops and became a prisoner of war at the infamous German War Camp Stalag 3, where fellow prisoners attempted the Great Escape. After two years as a POW, he was freed as allies marched into Germany. Awarded the U.S. Purple Heart, he continued serving in the Air Force being assigned at bases in Texas, Florida, Guam, New Mexico and Japan. At those locations he attended university classes and, although accumulated enough hours, never received a degree. He was a member of the Drone Squadron at Holloman AFB in New Mexico, where he was involved in atom bomb testing. After 21 years James retired from the Air Force and followed his love for flying by beginning his private sector career at Executive Beechcraft in Kansas City. He flew for United Utilities and Kansas City Life Insurance Company. He retired from Kansas City Life as AVP/Director of Flight Operations. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to ownership in several small business ventures. He served as Superintendent of the Board at Wyandotte United Methodist Church. His interests included photography, hunting, flying, travel and the NRA. He maintained a staunch belief in freedom and his country all his life. Although in failing health these past years, the importance of family remained a priority for him. He leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Dorothy Edwards Hudson; his daughters, Joyce Hudson Martin (Topeka, Ks), Janet Hudson Turnure and her husband, John (Seffner, Fl); grandchildren Crystal Nicole Martin (Corpus Christi, Tx), Scott Hudson Martin (Lawrence, Ks) and a faithful companion, Panda, the family Shitzu. All his family will miss his sense of humor and strength of character. The family suggests contributions in his honor to Providence Medical Center where he received excellent and loving care from his physicians and the entire medical and hospital staff. James Conway Hudson