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James Glen Saling, 83, passed away quietly in his
home on Wednesday, March 21, 2007. Born December 14, 1923 in La
Grande, Oregon, where he lived for 19 years. Jim was an only
child, preceded in death by his parents, Ethel and Glen Saling,
cousin Leila Oz and grandchildren Brian Yohey, Jr.
In 1941, at the age of 20, he entered and served in World War II
as a ball turret gunner in a B-17 called “In The Mood” (The
Flying Fortress) in the Air Corps. Shot down over Germany and
held prisoner of war for 11 month’s. He was one of the 700
prisoners that were transported from Stalag Luft IV in the
boxcar Forty and Eight to Stalag Luft I POW camp at Barth in
northeastern Germany. He was decorated with the Air Medal with 3
Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the EAME
Theater medals. He was discharged on October 6, 1945 and
continued to keep the dream of freedom alive.
After World War II he moved to Reno, NV where he lived for 65
years. As an electrician, Jim opened three businesses; Diamond
Electric, Action Electric and Saling Electric. He belonged to
the National Electrical Contractors Association, IBEW Local 401,
ELKS Lodge 597 and Former Prisoners of War Stalag Luft IV. He
enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, boating,
traveling and most of all, his family.
Jim is survived by his wife Tessie of 63 years, married January
28, 1943. He is also survived by his four children: Lea Saling,
Jim (Barbara) Saling, Yvonne McGee-McCollum (Mike McGee, Tom
McCollum), Rick (Sandi) Saling, Brian Yohey; 12 grandchildren:
Dessiree (Shawn) Sliter, Monique (Russ) Masset, Nea McGee,
Carter (Stephanie) Yohey, Alisha (Citruan) Andrews, Tyler
(Jamie) Yohey, Jimmie Saling, Zachary McGee, Anthony Saling,
Hannah McCollum, Justin & Alyssia Morasky; 14 great
grandchildren: Austin, Stevie & Riley Yohey, Jordyn & Shea
Sliter, Cassius & Malaya Yohey, Reece & Brady Masset, Sierra
Wurzer, Micaiah, Levi & Ethan Andrews, Morgan Saling. He will be
missed dearly.
A memorial service is scheduled for Tuesday March 27, 2007 at
1:00pm at Walton’s Sierra Chapel, 875 West 2nd Street, Reno. We
invite you to send a condolence message in the “Remembrance
Registry Guestbook” at the website of:
www.waltonsfuneralhome.com. Donations to the
POW organization of your choice in lieu of flowers. |
