James Kelly Sweeney Lt. Col. Usaf

1929 - 2022

Col. Sweeney, age 92, died on July 22, 2022, at the Capital Caring Adler Center in Aldie, Virginia. He was born on November 11, 1929, in Weston, W.Va., to Martin and Roberta Sweeney. He graduated from St. Patrick High School with the class of 1947 and from West Virginia University in 1951, with a degree in Business Administration. While at WVU, he was affiliated with Phi Delta Theta fraternity and Mountain, Senior Men’s Honorary.

Col. Sweeney completed the Air Force Reserve Office Training program and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on June 4, 1951. Six weeks after graduation he was called to active duty and within 6 months, he was stationed in Toul, France with the First Air Force Wing to join NATO in Europe. After fulfilling his 2-year commitment, he returned to Weston and worked for his father in the Sweeney Smith Funeral Home and the Weston TV Cable Company.

Since he remained in the Air Force Reserves, he was again called to active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis and was assigned to a Minuteman Missile Wing as a missile combat crew evaluator. After serving at three different missile bases, he was assigned to the Pentagon in the office of the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force and worked as a liaison with foreign air forces. This tour was followed by a 3-year tour in Panama. His final tour was at Andrews Air Force Base serving as Chief of Protocol managing ceremonies for foreign heads of state, chiefs of foreign air forces, and White House and State Department functions.

He was preceded in death by his wife of more than 60 years, Anne Frances Sweeney, as well as his parents, and brothers, Warren, Robert, and Joseph. He is survived by his daughter, Tracy and grandchildren, Austin and Parker; daughter, Kelly (Randy) and grandchildren, Madison, Jackson, Jason (Valerie), and Eric (Nadine), as well as three great-grandchildren; his brother, Edwin; sister, Sarah and nieces and nephews.

A devout Catholic and an honorable and honest man who served his country, but who was so much more to his family. A husband who doted on his wife and who made the choice to adopt two little girls and to be the best father one could wish for â€" fun, funny, sweet, and caring, with a smile for everyone, including the nurses who cared for him in his final days. He will be missed tremendously; but the family is grateful knowing he is back with his beloved wife again.

Burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery (date TBD) with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Capital Caring Health (hospice) online at capitalcaring.org.