William Finley
I’m James Finley’s son. I posted the following online. Feel free to use what you like from it. Also, I forgot to add the he was a fan of the San Diego (not the Los Angeles) Chargers.
It is with profound sadness tempered with gratitude that I announce that my father, James Armid Finley has passed. He was born in the Chocktaw nation in Oklahoma in 1936. His family moved to San Diego in 1938 and lived in the Point Loma/ Ocean Beach neighborhood. Where he graduated from Point Loma high school in 1955. Shortly after, he joined the U.S. Army. While in the army, he met my mother and married her. He worked his whole life in the aerospace industry. Helping to develop the first 747, L-1011, and F-16. He also worked on the SR-71 and stealth aircraft at Lockheed’s famous Skunk Works. He couldn’t talk about all the projects he worked on there. And never told me all the details. But I am proud of what he did. He retired in the late 90’s and moved from California to Missouri where he raised alpacas along with a mess of dogs. He passed peacefully in his sleep at his home where he wanted to be. He is survived by his sister, four children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He led the life he wanted to live and he passed from this life as he wanted to.