James Paul Huskey

AIKEN - James Paul Huskey passed peacefully on Sunday July 15, 2012 at Cumberland Hills in Aiken, SC. Funeral services will be held at 11am on Wednesday, July 18 at Millbrook Baptist Church on Whiskey Road with the Reverend Dr. Eddie Leopard officiating. Interment will follow in Aiken Memorial Gardens with military honors. Pallbearers will be his nephews; Lewis Huskey Jr., David Huskey, David Nix, Harry Nix; Grandsons; Mike Fair and Mark Fair and his former son-in-law Dennis Hamrick. Honorary pallbearers are members of the Senior Men’s Sunday School Class at Millbrook Baptist Church. He was born in Gaffney, SC on May 1, 1919, to Paul Brooks and Pearl Coyle Huskey. He had made Aiken his home since 1952 when he came to work at the Savannah River Plant as a reactor operator. He retired from there in 1980. He served his country in WWII from 1941 to 1945 as 1st Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps receiving his wings on July 27, 1943. He was assigned to the 375th Troop Carrier Group, 58th Squadron, 54th Wing of the 5th Air Corps as pilot of a C-47 and later a C-46. He served in the Pacific Theater logging over 1400 hours flying time. He married the late Nell Kay Huskey in October 1943, while stationed at the Sedalia Army Air Field in Missouri. Nell passed away in 1999 at the age of 74. He was a member of Millbrook Baptist Church having joined when he moved his family to Aiken in 1953. He has served the church as deacon, choir member, Sunday School teacher and member of many other committees through the years. His devotion to his church was evident over the years and until just recently he attended Sunday School and the worship services regularly. He leaves behind his daughters, Christina (Greg) Warfield, Carol (Christopher) Fair, of Aiken; granddaughters Kimberly (Todd) Idol, Charlotte, NC and Jillian (Ed) Platt of Aiken; grandsons Michael Fair and Mark Fair of Aiken; step grandsons Nicholas (Kiersten) Warfield, Russell Warfield and Sam Warfield of Aiken; great granddaughter Alanah Fair, Dillingham, Alaska; great grandsons Noah Platt, Thad Idol and Chase Fair. Other surviving family members: brothers Bobby Huskey of Seguin, TX; Theron Huskey of North Augusta, SC: sisters Madge Moore of Cowpens, SC; Jennie Carpenter of Ashville, NC and numerous nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Jim. Family members who predeceased him are Lewis Huskey of Gaffney, SC; Deane Harrington of Gaffney, SC; Eckles Huskey of Spartanburg, SC; Greta Parker of Blacksburg, SC; Gwendolyn Huskey who died at the age of three. His family and many in-laws and friends always spoke very highly of him saying he was one of the finest men they have ever known. He was an honest man, a kind man, a devout Christian, a devoted family man, a proud American and a member of the Greatest Generation. The family would like to thank the staff and residents of Cumberland Village/Hills for embracing him into their family and taking special care of him in his last weeks. He was also cared for by the wonderful staff of Regency Hospice. A special thanks to Linda Hart Lucas of Daybreak Adult Care for her invaluable knowledge and attention over the last several years. His brother-in-law, Terry Kay, wrote upon hearing of his death, “Today I weep, today Nell smiles” as she welcomes him to his eternal home. Memorials may be directed to Millbrook Baptist Church, 223 South Aiken Blvd., Aiken, SC 29803. Mr. Huskey’s online guest book may be signed at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 17, from 5 to 7 pm at SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Paul Huskey, please visit our flower store.