James Harold Stott

Jim Stott

James Harold Stott (Jim) was born in Philadelphia, PA on April 2, 1943. He passed from this life
on April 28, 2024 in Fair Oaks, CA. He was a loving husband, proud military patriot, loving
family member, caring friend, and great neighbor.

Growing up in suburban Philadelphia, Jim watched the Rose Bowl game and saw the bright
California sunshine and warmer winter days. He vowed that he would live there someday.

His other childhood dream was to serve in the United States Air Force. His choice of colleges,
Otterbein College in Westerville, OH, was made because it offered Air Force ROTC. After
graduation, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt on August 20, 1965. He had a short stint in pilot
training at Langley Air Force Base (AFB), TX. But soon found he was better suited to be a
navigator.

His California dream became reality when he was assigned to Mather AFB, Rancho Cordova,
CA to enter Undergraduate Navigator Training. This began a 20+ year military career that
allowed him to do the only occupation he ever wanted…to serve as an officer of the United
States Air Force.

The Viet Nam War was the reality that he faced upon his graduation from navigator training. His
tour of duty was Pleiku, Vietnam (1967-68), where he earned an Air Medal. He came home to a
fragmented country that was less than supportive of its military service members. He was very
proud when that attitude in America changed after 9-11. He never failed to thank any person
wearing military logos or insignia for their service.

England AFB, LA was where he met Charlotte Marler, the love of his life and wife of 51 years.
But after 3 ½ years in LA, California beckoned once more with another Mather AFB assignment.
This time, he returned as a Navigator Instructor. He married Charlotte on December 2, 1972 and
they lived the California dream together.

Assignments in Montgomery, AL, Omaha, NE, Fairbanks, AK followed, but his terminal military
assignment in 1983 was Beale AFB, CA, where he retired as a major, allowing he and Charlotte
to return to the Sacramento area to begin their new post military life. During his career, Jim was
decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, among
other medals.

Jim and Charlotte have happily lived in Orangevale and Fair Oaks for 41 years.
Jim will be missed by so many. His bright smile, caring heart, and funny personality were his
trademark. His niece and nephews remember the funny voices he would do, as well as the
funny names he gave to things and people. He created a home for he and Charlotte and
supported her through her own career and cared for his mother-in-law who came to live in
Sacramento.

He was affectionately known as “the mayor” of the neighborhood. Ever vigilant, he watched
homes, brought in neighbor’s garbage cans, helped when a neighbor called. He enjoyed
working out at Rollingwood YMCA and was an active supporter of Charlotte’s participation in
Assistance League of Sacramento.

This wonderful, loving, caring man is survived by his wife Charlotte, sister Barbara White
(Conner) of Chagrin Falls, OH, niece Jennifer Comstock (Chip) of Youngstown, OH, nephews
Clark White, (Judy) of Chagrin Falls, OH, Scott White (Vicki) of Chicago, IL, Steven White
(Christy) of Alexandria, VA, and Michael White (Tessa) of Los Angeles, along with 12 great-
nieces and nephews.

Jim will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. It is only fitting that the well-known military
aviation poem "High Flight", written by John G. Magee on September 3, 1941, go with him:

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark nor ever eagle flew-
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

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