Arlen Dirk Jameson

Arlen Dirk Jameson
Arlen Dirk Jameson, Lt. Gen USAF (ret) inspired and enriched so many people during his full and beautiful life. To the great sadness of his many family and friends, Dirk was called to heaven on April 15, 2021 from his home city for the last 25 years, Austin, Texas. Dirk was born to Mary Elizabeth and Ashley Day Jameson on November 11, 1940 in Vernon, Texas. Son of a career Air Force Chaplain, Dirk and his three sisters spent their early years in various communities in Texas, ending up in San Antonio. At the age of 12, he tragically lost his mother to cancer. Dirk and his sisters were richly blessed within a year of that traumatic event, when his father met Mary Emma Hickox at the Lackland AFB Officers Club, initiating a beautiful marriage spanning more than 57 years. Dirk graduated with the Lewis and Clark High School class of 1958 in Spokane, WA. He attended the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA, graduating in 1962. It was there that Dirk glimpsed his first sight of the 1959 Sigma Nu White Rose Queen candidate, Betty Strobel. Their love and commitment to each other blossomed quickly, marrying in 1960 in Anchorage, AK. Dirk had a distinguished 33-year Air Force career, with Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations being the focus of the majority of his military career. He rapidly rose through the operational ranks, eventually serving in command positions at the Squadron, Group, Wing, Air Division, and Numbered Air Force, his career culminating as Deputy Commander in Chief (DCINC) of US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). His full military biography is at https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/106648/lieutenant-general-arlen-d-jameson/. After his USAF retirement, Dirk remained active with numerous commercial space and global security initiatives, as well as Texas and local community endeavors. He was known to most as Dirk, Grandpa, Pop Pop, Brother, Dad, Uncle, Golf Buddy, and always, friend. As a leader and mentor to so many, he was humble, empathetic, compassionate, loyal, and kind. His personality filled the room; he was often the champion of wild adventures or mischievously fun events. He had a lifelong sense of humor, and many commented on the "twinkle in his eye" while telling a good story or pulling an innocent prank. Arlen Dirk was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Betty Louise Jameson; his sons, Austin Dale Jameson (Maureen) of Columbia, MD and Patric Day Jameson of Phoenix, Arizona; four grandchildren, Nathan Meade Jameson, Colton Meade Jameson, Annaliese Marie Jameson and Austin Dirk Jameson, and a great granddaughter, Avery Anna Jameson; his sisters Jana Jameson Nave (John) of San Antonio, TX; Lynnis Jameson (Lawrence Hamel) of Kansas City, MO; Kadi Jameson Wills (Jim) of Guadalajara, Mexico, his Aunt, Martha Butler (Harold) of Yorktown, TX. A Funeral service will be held at 2:00PM on Friday, April 23, 2021 at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church, 7050 Village Center drive, Austin, Texas. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date/time to be determined. Donations in his honor can be made to the Air Force Academy Foundation at: https://www.afacademyfoundation.org