Jim Titus

James H. Titus, Jr. died peacefully with family at his bedside on January 13, 2009, at Tranquility Hospice. He was born in Terra Haute, Indiana, on October 15, 1918, and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri as a member of the Catholic faith. Jim attended the University of Missouri and earned a degree in Engineering. He settled in Marietta, Georgia in the 1950’s. Mr. Titus is preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley O’Beirne Titus; son, James H. Titus, III; his second wife, Jemmie Anne Coates Titus; stepson, Benjamin Brewster Coates; and grandson, Brad Titus. He is survived by his wife, Ophelia Daniel Titus, his daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Dick Gabriel, daughter-in-law, Dot Titus (widow of Jim Titus III) and son and daughter-in-law, George and Linda Coates. Grandchildren include: James IV, Sherry and Brad (children of Jim and Dot Titus); Kristian Price, Debbi Lauder, Tuffy Williams, Mike Gabriel, Alan Williams, and Trace Gabriel (children of Judy and Dick Gabriel); George IV and William Coates (children of George and Linda); and Katie Crockett (daughter of Brewster Coates). Great grandchildren include: Taylor and Tyler (grandchildren of Jim and Dot Titus); Rebecca, Ashton, Mallory, Gabriel, Victoria, AJ, Autumn, and Abram (grandchildren of Judy and Dick Gabriel); George V, Ellie and Walela (grandchildren of George and Linda Coates); and Katie Crockett (grandchild of Brewster Coates). Known to many at Lockheed Georgia as the Assistant to the Vice President of Engineering and Advanced Programs, Mr. Titus retired from Lockheed after over 40 years of service. He was a member and past president of the Lockheed Georgia Retirees Club. Commodore Titus was active in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for many years, having first joined in 1947. Once in Marietta, he joined Flotilla 22 in October 1960, two years after its chartering on September 26, 1958. He served two years as Flotilla Commander in 1966-67; Division Captain from 1968-69; Rear Commodore from 1971-72; and Vice Commodore from 1977-78. Jim also served as District Commodore from 1977-78. In 1968 – his first term as Division Captain – Division 2’s boundaries included most of Georgia and Western South Carolina. Jim became AUXOP in 1972, thus making 179 AUXOPS in the 7th District and 20 in Division 2. In 1968 he assisted in organizing Flotilla 21 Augusta; Flotilla 23 Cedartown in 1970; Flotilla 28 Macon in 1978; and reorganizing Flotilla 24 Baldridge in 1977-78. Jim served in many staff positions and was awarded many plaques and certificates during his Coast Guard Service, but the award that Jim remembered and cherished most was the Administrative Award of Merit that he received in 1973. In appreciation of over 45 years of service, the Coast Guard Auxiliary named and dedicated the James H. Titus Facility for Search and Rescue at Allatoona in his honor. The family is deeply grateful to everyone who performed any act of kindness, gave support, offered a prayer, or held our hand during Jim’s illness. We would especially like to acknowledge the care and love given by Signature Health Care of Marietta. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Aviation Museum Discovery Center. Donations can be made payable to AMDC, and mailed to 358 Roswell Street, Suite 1110, Marietta, GA 30060. Mr. Titus’ body has been donated to Emory Medical School to further medical science. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 pm on Friday at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home, with Mark Nysewander, Associate Pastor of RiverStone Church, officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Jim Titus

January 14, 2009