James “Lotz” H. Lotzgesell, Jr. was born Nov. 7, 1921. Graduating from Sequim High School in 1938, he was at the University of Washington when Pearl Harbor occurred. Leaving college, he flew seaplanes during WWII.

While on the Chester they bombarded Paramushir I. On the Nashville, MacArthur’s Philippine invasion flagship, he flew in five island landings – winning an Air Medal and on Dec. 13, 1944, a kamikaze killed 133, wounded 190. In 1945, Dad was in an airplane crash.

After WWII, he married Shirley Harper. The Korean War found Lotz flying P2V patrol bombers. VP-2 flew from Kodiak to the Arctic Circle, west above Siberia, then down the Bering Straits – probing for radar and submarines.

Toward the end of the war, at Oahu, he flew DC-6Bs linking both sides and middle of the Pacific. Volunteering for intelligence in the mid-50s, he participated in the U-2 program in Wash. DC.

His next assignment was in Morocco, and in 1961 he was sent to Norfolk and involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis. In Summer, 1963 he retired as LCDR.

In Port Angeles, he worked 10 years as a bank officer. Subsequently, he ran a motel, taught real estate, made cabinets and drove a school bus.

He also became a PC guru. When, in the late 90s, mill smoke forced Shirley to leave, they spent time in Northern California, then moved to Oak Harbor in 2005.

On June 21, 2013, our beloved “Jimmy” passed away. Surviving are wife Shirley, children Dana Lotzgesell, Tonah Potter Bonnie McWilliams, and grandchildren Cari, Amy, Seth, Jeffrey.

Arrangements entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel. Friends may go on line at www.burleyfuneralchapel.com to sign a gust-book and leave memories for the family.