Deceased September 24, 2015
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50th Reunion Book
In Memory
Jim Walles died peacefully in late September at the Rockingham County Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Brentwood, N.H. He and Carole married in Exeter, N.H., on Aug. 5, 2006; their romance had rekindled when Jim tracked Carole down in 2004. They were just as happy together these last 10 years as when they were teenage prom king and queen.
Jim was born in Malden, Mass. He graduated from Williston Academy in 1954 and from the College in 1958, then earned an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1962. His many titles over the years included soldier, small business owner, director of sales, director of marketing, director of cargo marketing, cargo general manager, manager of airports, city vice president, vice president of passenger services, regional vice president, vice president of operations, divisional vice president, managing director and executive director.
He worked for General Electric, Family Laundry, Adley Express, TWA, Allied Aviation, Ogden Corp., LAXTEC Corp. and Aviation Consulting. He was the mastermind behind round-trip ticketing in the airline business. His employees and colleagues relied on him for his solid, strategic way of thinking, his loyalty and his mentorship.
Carole tells me that Jim had a stroke six years ago and never fully recovered. “We were still able to enjoy our time together until about six weeks before his death. … I have lost the love of my life.”
James C. Blackburn ’56