James E. Wren Jr.

James E. (Jim) Wren, Jr., age 83, passed away Saturday morning, August 18, 2012. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be 2 p.m. Monday at Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, with the Rev. John LaNoue officiating.

Jim was born April 21, 1929 and grew up in Vernon, Texas, where he played basketball and was an Eagle Scout. He graduated from Baylor University in 1950, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at the beginning of the war in Korea, became a pilot, and ultimately left the Air Force in 1955 as a Captain.

Following his return to civilian life, Jim traveled the world as a professional corporate pilot, built an insurance agency and a real estate agency in Athens, Texas, served on the Athens City Council, and starting in 1969, helped found and lead Amigos Internacionales Corporation, a non-profit organization providing Christian medical and dental missionaries to Latin America and eventually to the world. Jim served as President of Amigos Internacionales until 2000.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Peggy.

Jim is survived by his wife, Anna of Nassau Bay; son, Jim III and wife, Mindy of Waco; daughter, Robin Karnes of Aubrey; daughter, Susan and husband, Greer Kendall of Coppell; step-son Joe and wife, Susan Vestal of Nassau Bay; sixteen grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his aunt Hilda Smith of Waco and many cousins.

At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.

April 21, 1928 - August 18, 2012

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