James Lancaster Obituary

Colonel James W. Lancaster, USAF (Ret.), passed away on July 8, 2007, after a lengthy illness. Colonel Lancaster was born on July 15, 1919 in Temple, Texas to James F. and Marie (Stepan) Lancaster. He is survived by a daughter, Linda L. McDowell and husband Mike of Florissant, Colorado; a son, James W. Lancaster, Jr. and wife Judy, of Placentia, California; a sister, Lorraine Deister of Ulysses, Kansas; five granddaughters: Laura Kerner and husband Bob of Alisa Viejo, California; Shannon Daniels and husband Chris of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Natasha Gupton and husband Richard of Ashburn, Virginia; Andrea Pauly and husband Dave of Colorado Springs, and Kathryn McDowell of Fort Collins, Colorado; 6 great grandchildren: Michal Kerner, Madison Gupton, Lauren Pauly, Mackenzie Gupton, Stephanie Kerner and Chad Kerner, and 4 nephews. His wife of 33 years, Lillian, passed away in 1976. His second wife, Phyllis, passed away in 2002. Colonel Lancaster graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles. He served 30 years in the United States Air Force, retiring in 1970 as Commander of the 4600th Air Base Wing and Ent Air Force Base. He was a Command Pilot and accumulated almost 10,000 flying hours. His military decorations include the Silver Star; Legion of Merit with 1 oak leaf cluster; Distinguished Flying Cross; Air Medal with 7 oak leaf clusters; Air Force Commendation Medal; Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster; World War II Victory Medal with 7 Battle Stars; and numerous campaign ribbons. He served in the Hawaiian Islands at Hickam Field near Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941; Midway Island during the Midway Battle; Guadacanal; India; China; Germany; Greenland; as well as commanding units at several bases in the United States. After retiring from the Air Force in 1970, he was the Public Works Administrator for the City of Colorado Springs for 15 years. He was President of the Pikes Peak Chapter of the Air Force Association; President of the Colorado Chapter of the American Public Works Association; a member of the Jim Murray Scholarship Committee at Colorado University, and Colorado State University; a member of the Transportation Advisory Committee of the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments; Secretary of the Pikes Peak Highway Advisory Board; and the Evergreen Cemetery Advisory Board. He was a Director for the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District. He was a Life member of the Order of Daedalions and the Air Force Association. He belonged to the Air Force Academy Athletic Association; the Retired Officers Association; YMCA; El Paso Club; Woodmoor Country Club; Eisenhower Golf Course; Air Force Academy Officers Club; Winter Night Club; Sheet Bliss Chapter of the I.O.O.B.; and St. Mathias Episcopal Church. Donations may be made to the St. Mathias Episcopal Church Building Fund, 18320 Furrow Road, Monument, Colorado 80132. A Celebration of Life will be held at the USAF Academy Officers' Club on Saturday, July 14 at 2:00 followed by a reception at the Officers' Club. Private burial will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.