James Walter Revis
Born: January 13, 1920
Died: May 03, 2009
James Walter "Jim" Revis went to be with his Lord & Savior on May 3, 2009. Graveside funeral services will be at Summit View Cemetery, Guthrie, OK on May 7, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie.
Jim was born January 13, 1920 in Faith, SD to Freddy Eyssell and Mabel Mary Revis.
Jim graduated in 1936 from Guthrie High School. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1940. He was sent to Ellington Field in Houston to learn photography. He worked in the photo lab, attended armament school, gunnery school and then advanced gunnery school. Jim became a gunner on a B-25 and was deployed to Australia. He then became a gunner of the Douglas A-26 attack bomber. This bomber was used to harass Japanese shipping and airfields. He went to New Guinea in the South Pacific to fly 48 missions. They were to move to Lady Island in the Philippines to fly their final two missions before coming home. Jim was in the Green Dragon Bomb Group. While in New Guinea, he and his pilot were flying a mission. Jim was forced to bail out because the aircraft was low on fuel and their base was weathered in with severe fog. Shortly after Jim bailed out, the pilot spotted a small coast spotter airfield and landed. The rescue aircraft spotted Jim the next day and dropped him food, a rifle, and clothes. They told him to stay put and they would send someone after him. If he needed anything to be dropped off, he spelled out words from strips of his parachute to state his needs. He spent two weeks in the jungle without being spotted by the Japanese or the natives. If captured, they would turn him in to the Japanese for the 100,000 yen reward. Jim was rescued by two Australian aborigine scouts, who brought him out in a canoe. He flew his last mission in the Philippines in 1945. Ten days before Germany surrendered, he was honorably discharged. He served in the military from 1940 - 1945.
Jim was employed by the Guthrie Postal Service from 1945 – 1949. He then joined the National Guard and went to Louisiana for training. His unit relieved another and they went to Hokido, Japan. After a year of being in Japan, he was sent to Korea. While there he became First Sergeant of the company and instructed non commissioned officers in the school of standards. He rotated back to the United States and was honorably discharged in 1952. Jim was awarded the following: AP Service Ribbon, Bronze Star, American Defense Service Ribbon, Air Medal, and Oak Leaf Cluster. When he returned he went back to the Guthrie Post Office.
In 1960, Jim married Ida Bertram. Jim and Ida traveled all over the United States as members of the National Field Archery Association. He was a councilman in the National Field Archery Association for a four state area. Jim and Ida offered free archery instruction to local youth groups. In 1975, Jim retired from the United Postal Service. Ida preceded him in death.
In 1988, Jim married Joyce Canning and was embraced by her children and grandchildren. They continued traveling to archery meetings and tournaments. In 2002, Jim retired from the National Field Archery Association. They joined the Good Sams Club of Oklahoma in 2003 and in 2008 he became president.
He was a member of Community Church, Joyful Singers, and Wisdom Seekers.
Jim is survived by his wife, Joyce; brother, Leo Revis, Sulphur, LA; children, Pat Revis, Oklahoma City, OK; Jennifer Coleman, Dallas, TX; Rhonda Baker, Oklahoma City; Ladonna Semler and husband Greg, Guthrie; Mike Canning and wife Jean Ann, Guthrie; Linda Rocheleau and husband Dan, Texas; David Canning and wife Cheryl, Guthrie; & Lorri Tsoodle and husband Rod, Edmond, OK; granddaughters, Megan Nichols, Laura Revis, Jana Frey, Hayley Semler, and A’Mari Rocheleau; grandsons, Michael Baker, James Baker, Justin Semler, Jason Canning, Ryan Rocheleau, Jeremy Canning, and Joseph Canning; 11 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Marie Thomas, and brothers, Freddy Eyssell Revis, Jr.
Pallbearers will be Earl Holtschnider, sons Mike and David Canning, and sons-in-law, Greg Semler, Danny Rocheleau, and Rod Tsoodle.
In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. Visitation will be held at Smith-Gallo Funeral Home Wednesday until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
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