James (Jim) Spurlock Farrior III
James (Jim) S. Farrior III., age 92, died at Quality Health Care in Fernandina Beach, Fl. on May 29, 2012 following an extended illness.
Jim was born January 11, 1920 in Birmingham, Ala., to the late James S. Farrior II and Ruth Thompson Farrior. His early years were spent in Letohatchee, Ala., and from the start he was industrious and filled with curiosity. In 1937 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and was trained as a radio telegraph operator. During this time he also obtained his radio amateur license, W4FOK, a life long hobby and passion.
In 1941, Jim joined the British Civilian Technical Corps and served as a technician and operator for the world’s first land based early warning radar system. Once the United States entered the war efforts, he joined the United States Merchant Marine as a Chief Radio Officer, where he served aboard ships in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and North and South Pacific.
After the war, he attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) and also worked as Chief Engineer of radio station WJHO in Opelika, Alabama. While working at the radio station, Jim met and married, Peggy Moore Adams. After graduation in 1949, he taught Electrical Engineering until his move to Huntsville, Alabama in 1950.
In Huntsville Jim began his 30-year aerospace career as the first US Technical civilian employee of Dr.Wernher Von Braun when the German missile team relocated to Huntsville Redstone Arsenal. He was soon placed in charge of the design and development of guidance systems for the Redstone, Jupiter, Pershing, Jupiter “C” and Saturn missile systems.
In 1959, when Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. of Sunnyvale, California won the contract for development of the submarine-launched missile Polaris, he was offered the position of Manager of the Guidance and Control Department of the Missiles Systems Division.
As the space race continued to escalate, Jim was asked to move back to Huntsville in 1962 to open a new Lockheed Huntsville Research and Engineering facility. Under his direction the company developed a national reputation for aerospace research, design, and engineering. This was an exciting time in space exploration and Lockheed under Jim’s direction played an active role in the development of the Saturn, Apollo and Lunar Lander programs.
While living in Huntsville Jim developed many interests including boating, diving, glider pilot, archaeology, genealogy, running (marathon at age 61), photography, amateur radio, and travel. He was a founding member of both the Madison County and the Alabama Archaeological Society.
After a fulfilling aerospace career, Jim retired in 1980. Upon retiring Jim moved first to Daphne, Ala., then Merritt Island, Fl., before settling in Fernandina Beach, Fl. During retirement he participated with the University of Texas and Earth Watch on archaeological digs in Central America. Jim and Peggy also enjoyed many years traveling the world. Jim has published technical books and journals as well as several family genealogy books and memoirs, based on the life long journals that he kept. These will be enjoyed by generations to come. Jim also developed “The Mill” a free-ware program that teaches both American and International Morse Code.
Jim is survived by his wife of 64 years, Peggy Adams Farrior; his daughters Sue Farrior Harden, Fernandina Beach, Fl.; and Janis Farrior Nall (Larry), Sopchoppy, Fl.; his grand-daughter Jennifer Nall Petrandis (Thomas), his great-granddaughters, Marina Petrandis, Savannah Petrandis, and Kyria Petrandis; his sister Anne Leidel, and brother Joseph Sanderson (nee Farrior). He is further survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives. The family would like to give special thanks to Joyce Bowman and all of the caregivers at Angel Watch of Amelia Island, Quality Health Care, Brandan McCracken, and Paul Duvall for their loving care and support during his illness.
Burial will be privately held at the Letohatchee Cemetery in Alabama.
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