LCDR James M. Klein, USN Retired
James Michael Klein, age 68, of San Diego, California, passed away June 24, 2015 at his home following a lengthy battle with colon cancer. Previous to his cancer diagnosis Jim had a non-malignant brain tumor successfully removed.
Jim was born October 16, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan to Frank J. Klein, Sr. and Virginia A. (Charbeneau) Klein. The family moved to Bellevue, Ohio in 1955.
On December 27, 1969 Jim married his high school sweetheart, Jean Elaine Cook, in Bellevue, Ohio. Following their marriage, Jim and Jean relocated to Pensacola, FL where Jim secured a teaching position at Belleview Middle School.
A 1964 graduate of Thompson High School in Bellevue, Ohio, Jim played Varsity Basketball and ran track, going to State to compete in the mile. He was also selected for The National Honor Society and went to State for One Act Plays Competition. During the summers he worked on different farms, found the time to show some of the cows he raised as part of FFA, Future Farmers of America, at the county fair. He had the distinction of his cow, Minuet, being awarded the trophy for Best Uddered Cow.
Jim furthered his education at Slippery Rock State Teacher’s College in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. He was active in track and field, long distance running. He graduated in May, 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education. He also became a licensed commercial pilot and aviation instructor. He continued to take college courses in the Navy and civilian life after retirement.
Jim was commissioned as an Ensign, United States Reserve on 21 April 1972. Completion of flight training on September 1972 led to his designation as a Naval Flight Officer and as a Distinguished Naval Graduate with accompanying augmentation to the Regular Navy. Jim’s aviation warfare community selection took him to Albany, Georgia where he began flying as a Reconnaissance Navigator in the RA-5C Vigilante aircraft. During this time Jim and Jean managed to keep both feet on the ground while launching their family with the birth of their daughter, Laura, in 1973, moving the Vigilante community to Key West in January 1974, and the birth of their daughter, Valerie, in 1974. Eight days later he deployed to his first squadron, RVAH-7 and joined them mid cruise. Fortunately, they only had 3 months left in their deployment. Jim made two extended deployments of nine months each to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. During this time he coordinated the rescue of Vietnamese refugees adrift on the South China Sea.
During his career, Jim was stationed in Pensacola, Florida twice, Glynco and Albany, Georgia, Key West, Florida, Diego Garcia (a year of unaccompanied duty) and San Diego, California. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander and retired June 26, 1992. During Jim’s career in the Navy he received numerous decorations and awards including the Navy Commendation Medal (two awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal. After his retirement, Jim became a financial planner for USPA & IRA in Oceanside, California. His love of educating brought him back to his original vocation as he became a beloved substitute teacher for many of the elementary schools in the San Diego City School District.
Jim had a wide variety of hobbies and interests, but aviation was where he derived his greatest pleasure. As a youth he began building and flying model airplanes and this interest remained with him throughout his life. He also enjoyed running, cycling, horseback riding, and sailing, love of animals and collected model trains and old clocks he liked to restore. Perhaps Jim was best known as an avid Ohio State University fan who enjoyed good natured rivalry with University of Michigan fans. ”Go Bucks!” Jim taught himself to play the harmonica, guitar, violin and piano. He will be remembered as a family man enjoying his role as husband, father and extremely proud Grampy.
Jim is survived by his devoted wife, Jean, loving daughters Laura and Valerie, precious grandchildren Toccoa, David James, and Grace, siblings Alice Miller, Frank J. Klein, Jr., Theresa Stewart, and Bernadette Ferguson, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Preceding Jim in death were his parents and a brother Jerome Dennis in infancy.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 8, 2015, 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Legacy Funeral and Cremation Care, 7043 University Ave., La Mesa, California, 91942. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 10, 2015 at 4:00 PM at Tierrasanta Lutheran Church, 11240 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92124. A light reception will follow. Final internment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida the city where Jim’s military career and marriage began.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to American Cancer Society Relay for Life of San Diego Downtown, NMC San Diego Oncology Team at http://main.acseveents.org/goto/NMCSanDiegoRFL2015, or Relay for Life Seattle, Capitol Hill: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/DadsTeam (Valerie’s Team), or Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
The family wishes to express their gratitude for exceptional care to the staff of Naval Medical Center San Diego Balboa: the Interventional Radiation department especially Lorraine, Jocelyn and April; Ret. CAPT Preston S Gable, MD, Hematology/Oncology; CDR Ryan C Maves, MD, Infectious Diseases/Critical Care Medicine; LCDR Benjamin J Drinkwine, MD, Vascular/Interventional Radiation Clinic; LCDR Nancy L Miller, MD Nephrology/Internal Medicine; CAPT Allison Robinson, Colon and Rectal Surgeon; CDR Sean P Stroup, MD Urology; LCDR Ronald T Rinaldi, CHC, Chaplin; ENS Yoyana Khatiwoda, MSW, Social Worker; Wards 5 North and 5 East. In addition the family would like to thank the following people: Senta Medical Clinic, Ian Purcell, MD, Ph.D., Neurology; Sanjay Ghosh, MD, Neurosurgery. University of California, San Diego: Syed M Abbas Fehmi, MD, M.Sc, Gastroenterology; Doctors and Nurses at Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center; Eric B Raimo, MD, Psychiatry; Sheldon Z Kramer, Ph.D, Psychology; Pastor Bohdan Vadis, Tierrasanta Lutheran Church; Betsy Frater, Music Director Tierrasanta Lutheran Church; TLC Bell Choir; TLC Choir; and Mission Hospice especially Madie, RN, Yvonne, Social Worker and Eileen, Chaplin.
We are deeply thankful for the many people who have kept our family in their thoughts and prayers, and a special thanks to St. Anthony.
Replies
What great tribute to a outstanding Navy pilot and dad ! MAY HE REST IN PEACE !