Lt. Col. James Edward Shrader

Lt. Col. James Edward Shrader, U.S. Army, Retired July 25, 1931 ~ May 21, 2014 James Edward Shrader was born July 25, 1931, to Kathleen (Olive) Shrader and Lyman E. Shrader in Helena, AR. The family later moved to Paragould, AR, where James “Jim” attended school through the 12th grade. He played football in high school and his Junior year they won state champs. He was All Star Guard. He graduated in June 1949, with a football scholarship to University of Arkansas. In 1951, he joined the Army and after basic training, went on to OCS and after becoming second Lieutenant, he went to Jump School and became a Paratrooper at Fort Benning, GA; then on to Fort Hood, TX to serve with the 701st Armored Infantry Battalion 7th Cavalry. While home on leave, he met and married Clara Campbell. They lived in Killean, TX for four and a half months, then Jim received orders to attend atomic bomb testing in Nevada in May 1952. After Nevada, he received orders for Japan to train tank company for Korea. After Japan’s occupation ended August 1953, Clara was able to join him in Misawa, Japan, then to Hokkaido for eight months. The tank company moved to Honshu, where their daughter, Karen Marie was born. When she was six months old, they were able to travel back to the United States, back to Fort Hood and then the 701st Battalion moved to Ft. Polk of Leesville, LA. After six months there, they then had orders to Ft. Knox for eight months. Then to flight school at Ft. Rucker in Alabama and helicopter school at Fort Walters,TX; then San Marcus, TX to train at the Air Force Flight Center. Back to Ft. Knox for 12 months as a pilot for Armor Board Training Center. After that, they moved to Fort Irwin, CA to be Air Field Commander until orders sent him to Fort Leavenworth, KS to Command and General Staff College. Then to Germany in 1960, where he served with the 10th Special Forces and was Air Field Commander, where their second child, Heidi Lynn, was born August 21, 1962. Then was stationed at Fort Monroe in Virginia with Continental Army Headquarters. Then back to Fort Walters as Officer in Charge of Helicopter training center for pilots for Vietnam. In 1964, he received orders to Vietnam after six months in Fort Benning organizing units for Vietnam. They left for a year of duty in helicopter unit. He served the last six months on General Westmoreland’s Staff in Saigon. With orders back to Fort Walters, Jim was sent to Fort Lewis, WA as Air Field Commander as Lieutenant Colonel. He retired in September 1970, and moved to Wenatchee, WA, where Jim was part owner and president of Lucky Badger Orchards, Inc. for the last 40 years. Jim and Clara celebrated their 62nd Wedding Anniversary on January 23, 2014. James is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Clara B. (Campbell) Shrader; daughters and sons-in-law, Karen and Bud Ohrazda of Orondo, WA and Heidi and Luis DePaz of Cashmere,WA; grandchildren, Amber Palmer, Tina Frickey, Jennifer Blair, Luis DePaz Jr., Marcos DePaz and Alicia DePaz; great-grandchildren, Cameron, Caleb, Makenna, Meagan, Jayden and Taylor; and very special and loving family friend, Carla Ohrazda. Viewing will be on Wednesday, May 28, 2014, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Jones & Jones~Betts Funeral Home in Wenatchee. Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 29, 2014, also at the funeral home. Final resting place will be Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guestbook at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements by Jones & Jones~Betts Funeral Home, Wenatchee.

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Lt. Col. James Edward Shrader

July 25, 1931 - May 21, 2014