James Barnhill Sr.

Nov. 7, 1919-July 7, 2008

James Wallace Barnhill, Sr., of Greenville and Brevard, died in Brevard on July 7, 2008. He was the son of the late Dr. Thomas Stanley and Sarah Harley Barnhill of Charleston.

A veteran of three wars, he was commissioned as an officer in the Army Air Corps during World War II and flew 53 missions as a navigator aboard B17s and B24s in the Pacific Theater. He fought in the battles of Truk, Rabal, Kings Cross, and others. Called back to active duty during the Korean War, he flew an additional 35 missions for the U.S. Air Force. During the Vietnam Conflict, he served as an intelligence officer in Thailand and Vietnam. As a flying officer, he taught military history at Duke University and also served on the History Faculty of the United States Air Force Academy.

He attended Harvard University and was a graduate of Presbyterian College and Northwestern University. He did post-graduate work at McGill University (Montreal), the University of Kent-Canterbury (UK), and Aberdeen University (UK). After retiring from the Air Force, he taught European and Russian history at Clemson University. Upon retirement from Clemson in 1984, he was named Professor Emeritus in History.

He is survived by his wife, the former Gladys Rives Greneker of Edgefield; his daughter, Sarah Rives Barnhill of Greenville; and his son, James Wallace Barnhill, Jr., and his wife, Donna West Barnhill, both of Trinity Episcopal Seminary, Ambridge, Pennsylvania.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, July 13 at 3 p.m. at All Saints Anglican Church in Mills River, NC. His interment will be private.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to The Hospice of Transylvania County Hospital, Brevard, NC, 28712, or to a charity of one's choice.

Special appreciation is expressed to the kind staff of the Brian Center in Brevard.