Longtime Lake Jackson resident James Clyde Caperton, 87, died Thursday, June 27, 2013 in Wimberley. He was born October 6, 1925 in Delta County, Texas to Eddie Lee and Clara WhiteCaperton.
James attended Commerce High School and played football but quit in his junior year to join the Army Air Corps. His parents lied about his birthday so he could join his brothers in World War II.James became a tail gunner on a B-26 bomber in the 9th Air Force 391st Bomb Group 572nd Squadron. He flew 17 missions in the European Theater and was shot down and separated from his crewmates on the last one in March 1945. He never saw them again until 2003, when he was reunited with his co-pilot and navigator in San Antonio.
After the war James attended East Texas State University, where he received a bachelors degree in chemistry, and after marrying wife Patsie in 1948, a masters in education. He and Pat moved to Lake Jackson in 1951 to teach in the Brazosport Independent School District.James taught science at Lake Jackson Junior High, then became assistant principal, and later moved up to science supervisor, curriculum director, and several other administrative positions in BISD. As a science teacher and administrator he received several NSF grants, including one which landed him at the University of Texas on the day of the Whitman shootings. He was walking past the tower when the shooting started, and took cover in the student union.
After retiring from BISD in 1989, James enjoyed his role as a Surfside businessman, renting and working on his A-frame beach houses and battling high tides and hurricanes. He was also an active member of the Brazosport Association of Retired Teachers. James is predeceased by his wife Patsie Swain Caperton, brothers Hugh, Bill, and Shelby Caperton, and sisters Ruby Haddock, Christine Miller, and Billie Cowan.
James attended Commerce High School and played football but quit in his junior year to join the Army Air Corps. His parents lied about his birthday so he could join his brothers in World War II.James became a tail gunner on a B-26 bomber in the 9th Air Force 391st Bomb Group 572nd Squadron. He flew 17 missions in the European Theater and was shot down and separated from his crewmates on the last one in March 1945. He never saw them again until 2003, when he was reunited with his co-pilot and navigator in San Antonio.
After the war James attended East Texas State University, where he received a bachelors degree in chemistry, and after marrying wife Patsie in 1948, a masters in education. He and Pat moved to Lake Jackson in 1951 to teach in the Brazosport Independent School District.James taught science at Lake Jackson Junior High, then became assistant principal, and later moved up to science supervisor, curriculum director, and several other administrative positions in BISD. As a science teacher and administrator he received several NSF grants, including one which landed him at the University of Texas on the day of the Whitman shootings. He was walking past the tower when the shooting started, and took cover in the student union.
After retiring from BISD in 1989, James enjoyed his role as a Surfside businessman, renting and working on his A-frame beach houses and battling high tides and hurricanes. He was also an active member of the Brazosport Association of Retired Teachers. James is predeceased by his wife Patsie Swain Caperton, brothers Hugh, Bill, and Shelby Caperton, and sisters Ruby Haddock, Christine Miller, and Billie Cowan.
Longtime Lake Jackson resident James Clyde Caperton, 87, died Thursday, June 27, 2013 in Wimberley. He was born October 6, 1925 in Delta County, Texas to Eddie Lee and Clara WhiteCaperton.
James attended Commerce High School and played football but quit in his junior year to join the Army Air Corps. His parents lied about his birthday so he could join his brothers in World War II.James became a tail gunner on a B-26 bomber in the 9th Air Force 391st Bomb Group 572nd Squadron. He flew 17 missions in the European Theater and was shot down and separated from his crewmates on the last one in March 1945. He never saw them again until 2003, when he was reunited with his co-pilot and navigator in San Antonio.
After the war James attended East Texas State University, where he received a bachelors degree in chemistry, and after marrying wife Patsie in 1948, a masters in education. He and Pat moved to Lake Jackson in 1951 to teach in the Brazosport Independent School District.James taught science at Lake Jackson Junior High, then became assistant principal, and later moved up to science supervisor, curriculum director, and several other administrative positions in BISD. As a science teacher and administrator he received several NSF grants, including one which landed him at the University of Texas on the day of the Whitman shootings. He was walking past the tower when the shooting started, and took cover in the student union.
After retiring from BISD in 1989, James enjoyed his role as a Surfside businessman, renting and working on his A-frame beach houses and battling high tides and hurricanes. He was also an active member of the Brazosport Association of Retired Teachers. James is predeceased by his wife Patsie Swain Caperton, brothers Hugh, Bill, and Shelby Caperton, and sisters Ruby Haddock, Christine Miller, and Billie Cowan.
James attended Commerce High School and played football but quit in his junior year to join the Army Air Corps. His parents lied about his birthday so he could join his brothers in World War II.James became a tail gunner on a B-26 bomber in the 9th Air Force 391st Bomb Group 572nd Squadron. He flew 17 missions in the European Theater and was shot down and separated from his crewmates on the last one in March 1945. He never saw them again until 2003, when he was reunited with his co-pilot and navigator in San Antonio.
After the war James attended East Texas State University, where he received a bachelors degree in chemistry, and after marrying wife Patsie in 1948, a masters in education. He and Pat moved to Lake Jackson in 1951 to teach in the Brazosport Independent School District.James taught science at Lake Jackson Junior High, then became assistant principal, and later moved up to science supervisor, curriculum director, and several other administrative positions in BISD. As a science teacher and administrator he received several NSF grants, including one which landed him at the University of Texas on the day of the Whitman shootings. He was walking past the tower when the shooting started, and took cover in the student union.
After retiring from BISD in 1989, James enjoyed his role as a Surfside businessman, renting and working on his A-frame beach houses and battling high tides and hurricanes. He was also an active member of the Brazosport Association of Retired Teachers. James is predeceased by his wife Patsie Swain Caperton, brothers Hugh, Bill, and Shelby Caperton, and sisters Ruby Haddock, Christine Miller, and Billie Cowan.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
