Col. James Earl Danner

Col. James Earl Danner, born August 26, 1938, passed away June 22, 2017 at the CarePartners Solace Center. Jim was born in Wooster, OH, and was a son of the late Glenn Lewis Danner and Ruth Snyder Danner. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Richard Danner. Jim graduated from Wooster High School in 1956. He received a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University in 1961, completing ROTC while there. Upon graduation he entered active duty in the USAF as a 2nd Lt. Jim also received a master's degree from the University of Virginia and from AFIT where he taught for four years. While serving 26 years in the Air Force he completed two remote tours, one in Vietnam and one in Korea. He retired as Director of Supply for the 9th AF in January, 1988, and he received several awards and medals. He was the Maintenance Supervisor for the School Board of Manatee County, FL from 1990 to 1997, when he retired to Asheville, NC. He volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and several mission building trips, including Alaska, Costa Rica, Bolivia, and the NC Coast as part of building teams from Central United Methodist Church where he was a member. Jim was a member of the Military Officers Association, the American Legion, the VFW, and the Gideons. Jim is survived by his wife of almost 56 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Danner; their four children, Gregory (Karen) of Marysville, OH, David (Patty) of Wooster, OH, Deborah of Leicester, NC, and Cathleen (Larry) of Northport, FL; 8 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; 3 sisters, Bonnie (Ralph) Hoffman and Carol (Jerry) Johnson of Alabama, and Linda (Bill) Mark from Concord, NC; and sister-in-law Sue Danner of Springfield, VA. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 30 2017, at the Western Carolina State Veteran's Cemetery in Black Mountain. The Rev. Dr. Rob Blackburn will officiate and the US Air Force Memorial Team will provide full military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Central United Methodist Church or to CarePartners Hospice. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family.