James Andrew McDonald, II

James Andrew McDonald, II age 75 and a resident of Konawa, Oklahoma passed away September 30, 2022 at Ada Care Center in Ada, Oklahoma.

A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date, and cremation is under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home of Konawa.

James was born January 22, 1947, to James A. and Dorothy E. (Young) McDonald. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, and graduated with the class of 1965 from Princeton High School in Cincinnati. After graduation, Jim joined the United States Air Force completing basic training in San Antonio, Texas, at Lackland Air Force Base. During the Vietnam War, Jim was stationed in Suffolk, England, at Royal Air Force Base Bentwaters. He served honorably in the Air Force from 1968 until 1971, where he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. Upon returning to the United States, Jim was stationed at Altus Air Force Base as a computer programmer for the C-5. In October of 1971, he received an honorable discharge to attend Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona, Florida. He obtained his commercial pilot license in 1972, and lived in Ohio, Nebraska, and Oklahoma continuing to pursue his passion of aviation. While in Oklahoma, Jim worked for the Federal Aviation Administration which ultimately led him to Dallas, Texas, where he lived from 1988 until he retired in 2013. During his retirement, he married Lee (Wilson) and together they spent time in Mississippi and Florida enjoying coastal living. In 2020, Jim and Lee moved to Ada, Oklahoma. Throughout his life, he served the church faithfully as a deacon, teacher, and worship leader. He had a genuinely kind soul and was compassionate toward the broken. Outside of flying and serving in the church, classic cars were a passion of his.

Jim is survived by his wife, Lee of Konawa, Oklahoma; daughter, Amber Faske and husband, Jacob, daughter, Jamie Libby and husband, Drew, son, James “Jimmy” McDonald III; six grandchildren, Isaac, Judah, Noah, Joy, Lana, and Taya; brother, John and wife, Sandy of Florida, brother, Jeff and wife, Donna of Ohio, sister, Jeri Tappan and husband, Steve of Ohio; and many friends and loved ones.

He is preceded in death by his parents.