James "Jim" Thurlow Chitwood

James T. “Jim” Chitwood

James Thurlow “Jim” Chitwood, age 92 of Osawatomie, Kansas died Friday, June 17, 2011 at Country Club Estates in Paola, Kansas

Jim was born September 17, 1919 in Guion, Arkansas. He was the oldest of six children of William Otis and Mamie Lillian (French) Chitwood. He attended school in Missouri and started working for the Missouri Pacific Railroad at the age of sixteen. He worked his way up to Road Forman of Engines. He retired in 1980 after 45 years.

Jim was married December 7, 1940 in Crane, Mo. to Edna Earle Hunter. They made their home in Crane, Mo. They became the parents of three children. In 1956 they moved to Osawatomie, Ks. In 1963 they moved to Jefferson City, Missouri. Edna died July 28, 1997. Jim moved back to Osawatomie around 2006 and lived in Vintage Park until moving to Country Club Estates in Paola, Ks in 2009.

One day while working for the railroad he witnessed a small plane go down in a field. He was able to pull the pilot from the burning plane before it exploded. For his action he received the Carnegie Hero Award and Missouri Safety Councils Medal of Honor and Lifesaving Award.

Jim was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Masons and Order of Eastern Star.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, wife and one son, Bill Chitwood of Shawnee, Ks.

He is survived by one son, John Martin “Marty” Chitwood of Barrington Rhode Island; one daughter, Lillian Lucille “Lynda” Cole of Osawatomie; one brother, William Chitwood of Nixon, Mo.; three sisters, Marie Beshears of Springfield, Mo.; Jean Journagan of Springfield, Mo.; Billie Friend of Kissimmee, Fla.; eight Grand Children; twelve Great-Grandchildren; other friends and relatives.

Services will be held Wednesday, June 22, 11:30am graveside at the Osawatomie Cemetery. Instate will be 1p.m. to 8p.m., Tuesday, June 21 at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie, Kansas.

Memorials are to Country Club Estates and Odyssey Hospice.


Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home (913)755-2114. www.eddybirchard.com