Death of PAA/DL Capt. James Ainsworth, age 79

[PCN DEATH Notice Mgr]

Notification of the passing of retired PAA/DL pilot Captain R. James
Ainsworth, age 79.

To view/sign the online guestbook please visit
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/lvrj/obituary.aspx?n=Capt-Ainsworth&pid=153625919
or the funeral home website at
http://www.davisfuneralservices.com/services.asp?locid=48&page=odetail&id=20241

Survived by his wife Nola personal condolences may be sent to the
family at
6311 N Woodchips Road, Pahrump, NV 89060-2596 ... (775) 727-9293

Thank you,
~ Carol Faulkner, PCN death notice communicator
de...@pilotcommunication.net

********************************************

CAPT. JAMES AINSWORTH , 1932-2011

Captain James Richardson Ainsworth, aged 79, passed away peacefully in
Las Vegas the morning of Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, with his family by his
side. Jim was born in a farmhouse in Marion, Ky., March 9, 1932, the
first of two children of Irene Eskell and Seldon Jenkins Ainsworth.
During his childhood, he and his younger sister, Wanda Lois, lived on
a farm near Cave-In-Rock, Ill., where he developed a lifelong love of
farm life and open land. During World War II, Jim's family moved to
Detroit, where his father worked for Ford on the assembly line. The
contrasting experiences of country and city life greatly marked Jim,
who upon graduating from Hazel Park High School, enlisted in the Air
Force, and set off to serve his country and see the world. In 1954, he
graduated the Air Force Cadet program, earning his wings as a fighter
pilot flying the F-84. Using the GI bill, USAF Capt. Ainsworth
completed his associates degree in aviation management at Mt. San
Antonio College in Los Angeles. There, at a pool party, he also met
his love and partner in life, Nola Dellsite. They married July 10,
1959 on their lunch hour and enjoyed, for over 52 years, a loving
relationship paralleled only in story books. After his military
career, Jim launched into commercial aviation with Zantop Air
Transport as a pilot, flying C-47 and C-46 cargo transports, and later
as Chief of Operations for both LA and Michigan bases. Jim and Nola
started a family: in 1962, a son, Robert James arrived, followed by
Michael Scott in 1963. In February 1966, he began flying with Pan
American Airways, his life-long dream. Less than two months later,
their first daughter, Jennifer Lee arrived. By the end of 1966, Jim
and family moved to the island of Guam where he flew as Captain on the
last of the legendary Pan Am flying boat service throughout the
Western Pacific Islands. In 1968, looking to return to the mainland,
the family settled in Las Vegas. In 1970, Jim was one of the first
pilots to fly the B-747, which he flew world-wide for many years. In
1971, their youngest daughter, Joy Lynn was born. In 1975 he designed
and built a house, workshop and ranch at the end of Spencer in the
desert, miles south of Las Vegas at that time. There he continued his
life-long passions of restoring cars, as well as raising a variety of
animals and crops with his wife and children. In 1987, Jim chose to
fly Pan Am's coveted intra-European routes from airline's historic
West Berlin base. Jim, Nola and Joy moved to West Berlin, lived there
for several years, and were there as the wall came down. His last
assignment was Captain of the Airbus A-310 out of New York, the last 6
months of which was as a pilot with Delta Air Lines, as a result of
their acquisition of Pan Am. At age 60, FAA regulations required Jim
to retire as an airline pilot in the U.S. Not ready to retire, Jim
continued as an instructor training new pilots from around the world
at Northwest Airlines Academy. A few years later he went to Gambia
(Africa) as a B-747 Captain, flying pilgrims to Mecca during the Hajj
and evacuating refugees from Brazzaville during the civil unrest in
The Congo. By his late 60's, Jim jumped into retirement by designing
and building another dream home, this one in Parhump, with his own
hands. Located on several dozen acres it had it all - enough room for
all his cars, tools, projects and beautiful views from all angles. Jim
was a striking man, with his wonderful full head of white hair, blue
eyes and welcoming smile. He was passionate about life, family,
flying, fixing old cars, hunting and above all, his wife Nola. He
attracted people from all walks of life and was a second father and
trusted friend to many throughout his life. His family - Nola; Robert
and Jill; Michael; Jennifer and George; Joy and Tim and his seven
grandchildren - Dustin, Kylie, Cami, Jackson, Ryan, Emily and Leilani
will miss him dearly. He will continue to be a hero and an inspiration
to us all. Visitation will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18,
with services following, both at Davis Funeral Home, 6200 S. Eastern,
Las Vegas, NV 89119. Tel. 702.736.6200. Graveside services will
follow.

Published in Las Vegas Review-Journal from September 13 to September
14, 2011

Arrangements by Davis Funeral Home & Memorial Park
6200 South Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89119

Visitation: Davis Memorial Chapel
6200 S. Eastern Ave.
Las Vegas , NV 89119
9/18/2011 at 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

Funeral Service:
Davis Memorial Chapel
6200 S. Eastern Ave.
Las Vegas , NV 89119
9/18/2011 at 1:00 P.M.

Interment:
Davis Memorial Park
6200 South Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89119