In Memory Of
James Walter Binns
1924
2017
James Walter Binns
November 10, 1924 — May 27, 2017
James Walter "Walt" Binns, age 92, passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2017 in O'Fallon, Missouri. He was born in Moultrie, Georgia on November 10, 1924, to Dr. Walter Pope Binns and Blanche (Mallary) Binns.
Walt graduated from Jefferson High School, Roanoke, Va., in 1941. He then attended the University of Richmond, in Richmond, Va., before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1943. He achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant and flew over 50 missions as a B-17 Co-Pilot or Pilot, from Tunisia in North Africa and Italy. He completed his tour of combat and was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and 4 Bronze Service Stars. Walt finished his studies at William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri, where his father was serving as the college President. He earned an AB Degree in Physics/Math. He joined the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, and earned membership into both Kappa Mu Epsilon and Sigma Pi Sigma Physics and Math Honors. Walt met Laura Tapp at William Jewell and they married on May 27, 1948.
Walt was an athlete who loved to compete. He was Captain of the William Jewell basketball team in 1947-48, and on the tennis team. He was accomplished in golf, tennis, bowling and bridge. Walt and Laura made their home in Wayne, Pennsylvania, where he had a long and successful career as a Sales Engineer, working first for General Electric and then for Princeton Gamma Tech. They were members of The Baptist Church in the Great Valley, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where Walt served as Deacon for many years. He was an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America in Chester County, Pa. Walt and Laura spent their retirement years on Skidaway Island, Georgia and as members of Skidaway Island Presbyterian Church, Savannah, Georgia. He was a volunteer firefighter and a tour guide for the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum. In 2013, they moved to O'Fallon, Missouri, to be closer to their children.
Survivors include: brother-in-law, James Bercaw of Wilmington, Delaware; sister-in-law, Ercell Binns of Alexandria, Virginia; son, James Walter "Jim" Binns, Jr. of Springfield, Missouri; daughter, Laura "Lolly" (James Ellis) Binns of Troy, Missouri; son, Lewis T. (Rita) Binns of Overland Park, Kansas; and daughter, Jane M. (Bruce) Hill of Saint Peters, Missouri; grandchildren: J.J. Ellis, Mallary (AJ) Henry, Katy (Chris) Slankard, Drew (Lacey) Binns, Becky Ellis and Chris (Sierra) Binns; and great-granddaughter, Collins Henry.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, brother, Edgar Mallary Binns, and two sisters, Emma Binns Bercaw and Blanche Binns Wetzell Dooley.
Memorial Service for Walt will be held on June 10, 2017, 11:00 am at Gano Chapel, William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri. Graveside service immediately following at Fairview Cemetery, Liberty, Missouri
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to SunRise United Methodist Church 7116 Twin Chimneys Blvd O'Fallon, MO 63368.
To share a memory of Walt, or leave a special message for him family, please visit the guestbook below.
Walt graduated from Jefferson High School, Roanoke, Va., in 1941. He then attended the University of Richmond, in Richmond, Va., before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1943. He achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant and flew over 50 missions as a B-17 Co-Pilot or Pilot, from Tunisia in North Africa and Italy. He completed his tour of combat and was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and 4 Bronze Service Stars. Walt finished his studies at William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri, where his father was serving as the college President. He earned an AB Degree in Physics/Math. He joined the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, and earned membership into both Kappa Mu Epsilon and Sigma Pi Sigma Physics and Math Honors. Walt met Laura Tapp at William Jewell and they married on May 27, 1948.
Walt was an athlete who loved to compete. He was Captain of the William Jewell basketball team in 1947-48, and on the tennis team. He was accomplished in golf, tennis, bowling and bridge. Walt and Laura made their home in Wayne, Pennsylvania, where he had a long and successful career as a Sales Engineer, working first for General Electric and then for Princeton Gamma Tech. They were members of The Baptist Church in the Great Valley, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where Walt served as Deacon for many years. He was an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America in Chester County, Pa. Walt and Laura spent their retirement years on Skidaway Island, Georgia and as members of Skidaway Island Presbyterian Church, Savannah, Georgia. He was a volunteer firefighter and a tour guide for the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum. In 2013, they moved to O'Fallon, Missouri, to be closer to their children.
Survivors include: brother-in-law, James Bercaw of Wilmington, Delaware; sister-in-law, Ercell Binns of Alexandria, Virginia; son, James Walter "Jim" Binns, Jr. of Springfield, Missouri; daughter, Laura "Lolly" (James Ellis) Binns of Troy, Missouri; son, Lewis T. (Rita) Binns of Overland Park, Kansas; and daughter, Jane M. (Bruce) Hill of Saint Peters, Missouri; grandchildren: J.J. Ellis, Mallary (AJ) Henry, Katy (Chris) Slankard, Drew (Lacey) Binns, Becky Ellis and Chris (Sierra) Binns; and great-granddaughter, Collins Henry.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, brother, Edgar Mallary Binns, and two sisters, Emma Binns Bercaw and Blanche Binns Wetzell Dooley.
Memorial Service for Walt will be held on June 10, 2017, 11:00 am at Gano Chapel, William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri. Graveside service immediately following at Fairview Cemetery, Liberty, Missouri
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to SunRise United Methodist Church 7116 Twin Chimneys Blvd O'Fallon, MO 63368.
To share a memory of Walt, or leave a special message for him family, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Walter Binns, please visit our flower store.
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