James Wellington Pearson

CAPTAIN JAMES (JIM) WELLINGTON PEARSON passed away October 11,2003 after a brave battle with leukemia. He was a kind and loving father. Jim was born in Sulphur, Louisiana on July 31, 1919, the son of Captain Charles Pearson and his wife Anna. Jim went to sea as an ordinary seaman following his graduation from Sulphur High School in 1936. In 1941, he became a third mate on a cargo ship delivering fighter aircraft for General Chennaults' 'Flying Tigers' in Rangoon, Burma. He advanced to become a ship's captain in 1945 and was the youngest captain in the U.S. Merchant Marine at the time. In 1947, he married the love of his life, Harriet Jean Sollenberger, an actress who worked in plays and movies under the stage name of Jean Carlin. He continued sailing as captain for American Export Lines and Lykes Lines before becoming a ship's pilot for the Port Of Houston in 1958. In 1972, Jim Pearson was elected as presiding officer of the Houston Pilots Association. He was a mason at Sulphur Lodge #424 F and AM. He retired in 1987 with his wife to their ranch near Yoakum, Texas where he raised cattle and enjoyed his hobby of restoring and flying vintage aircraft, among them a 1940's Stearman bi-plane. He was a member of the Experimental Aviation Assocation Chapter #340 in Victoria, Texas and enjoyed hosting many fly-ins at his ranch. After his wife's death in 1998, Jim Pearson sailed on several cruise ships around the world. He had just completed a trip to Norway to visit his father's birthplace before his illness. Jim is survived by his son, Eric Pearson and wife Amanda of Friendswood; two daughters, Nancy Annette Hoffman and husband Bowman of Yoakum and Rika Ann Pearson of Friends wood; and grandchildren Samantha Leach, Amberlie Hoffman and Bowman Hoffman, Jr. Pallbearers will be provided by the Experimental Aviation Association Chapter #340 in Victoria, Texas. The funeral service will be held today at 2 p.m. Wednesday, October 15 at Jeter Memorial Funeral Chapel with Reverend Chris Norton of Friendswood United Methodist Church officiating. Burial to follow at Forest Park East Cemetery in Webster, Texas.