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James
Cushing
1934 - 1/11/2010
Jim was a member of Chapter 55 since 2000. He was very much "air minded". His interest in flying started with RC planes and he built several models. He was a member of C.A.R.D.S. (Capital Area Radio Drone Squadron). Kyle Bradford shares that Jim built a Legal Eagle Ultralight with a half VW engine. It flew very well, except that it could have used a little more power. He kept the Eagle at Kyle's farm airport the summer of 2009. When Jim became ill, Jim's grandson and friend took the plane apart and trailered it home to Jim's garage. Jim soloed in a sport pilot airplane but hadn't yet flown enough to secure his Sport Pilot License. Jim was an excellent welder and did most of the welding on the third Pietenpol Kyle's building. Kyle says he was also very active in building and testing Kurt Gubert's Dormoy "Flying Bathtub" at Kyle's shop and farm.
Jim also had a Harley Davidson motorcycle and Joe Pirch recalls that it seemed Jim was never at the airport that he didn't arrive on his Harley. Many of us remember Jim as a "regular" at the AirVenture camp site each year. He was also an active volunteer at our Chapter events whether he was on the field parking planes or flipping pancakes in the chow line. Jim was a genuinely nice, soft-spoken person and will be missed by Chapter 55 and many others.
Obituary published
in Lansing State Journal on January 15, 2010:
James Cushing Olive Township James Douglas Cushing passed away January 11, 2010 at the age of 76. He was preceded in death by his wife Mildred L. (Harris) Cushing. Survivors include daughters Karen Cushing and Kathy Peterson; Son David (Tracey) Cushing; 7 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild. A memorial service will be held Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 900 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing with the Rev. Bob Prange officiating. The family will receive friends Saturday, from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Contributions may be made to Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation, Inc., 100 Park Ave, Suite #108, Rockville, MD 20850 in memory of James. Online condolences may be made at www.gorslineruncimanfuneralhomes.com