After a three month battle with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, James Douglas, surrounded by his family, passed away at home in Schertz, TX at dawn on Sunday, August 30, 2015. Doug was born in Plainview, TX, the first child of James L Monroe and Odessa Mickey Monroe and spent his early years in Texas, moving to AL and VA with his parents when his father, inventor of the WWII "Monroe (propaganda leaflet) bomb", was called back to active duty with the United States Air Force. He is survived by his loving wife Margaret Jane, his three adoring children: Jennifer Byrnes Monroe of Forli, Italy, James Frederic Monroe and his wife, Ann of Madison, WI, and Christine Monroe Knight and her husband Christopher Aaron Ober of Cibolo, TX; seven cherished grandsons: Daniel, Alexander, Andrew, Zane, Innes, Tommaso, and Felix; his dear sisters Marion Monroe of SC and Dianne Fix and her husband Randy Fix of SC, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Fritz and Christine Harris Glade of WA, brother-in law and sister-in law John and Annette Jenkins of FL and SC and brother-in law Tom Jenkins of VA, as well as many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Doug moved with his family to Long Island, NY in 1956, and attended Huntington High School, where he and Maggi met. After high school graduation in 1964, Doug attended the University of Virginia, graduating with a BA in English. Doug and Maggi married at St Bartholomew's Church, Bethesda, MD on January 27, 1968. Doug received a commission in the United States Air Force in 1969 and served his country with pride and honor for 21 years, retiring from active duty in 1990. As an Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Doug served at installations including Chanute AFB, IL; Forbes AFB, KS; Udorn RTAFB, Thailand; Bitburg AB, Germany; Randolph AFB, TX; Williams AFB, AZ; Alconbury AB, England; and Ramstein AB, Germany. Doug earned an MS in Public Administration from Ball State University, European Division, in 1977. After retiring from the Air Force, Doug served as a civilian aircraft maintenance contractor for ten years at bases including Williams AFB, AZ; Reese AFB, TX; and Laughlin AFB, TX. Upon retirement from Raytheon Aerospace in 2001, Doug accepted a position with the Alamo Area Community Colleges in San Antonio and was instrumental in inaugurating the Alamo Area Aerospace Academy, serving first as the assistant director and later as the director. For the past ten years, Doug volunteered with the AARP Tax Aide program, serving as State Technical Coordinator and providing computer support, training and mentoring. Computers, music, marathon running, and competition bicycling were passions of Doug's. Always available to coach and encourage others, he embraced the mantra, "Relentless Forward Motion". His faith and his love of country, family, and friends sustained Doug throughout his life. Everyone who knew Doug remembers his gentleness and warm smile.
