James Will "J. W." Counts

James Will "J.W." Counts, Aviation Machinist Mate First Class, United States Navy Retired, age 78, of Bonnerdale, met our heavenly Father on Thursday, October 30, 2014. Born on May 15, 1936 in Alicia, Arkansas, he was the son of James Luther and Lorine Counts. He attended Walnut Ridge High School and married his wonderful and loving wife, Pearl in 1957. They were young and in love and had many adventures during their travels throughout his Naval career. Jim retired from the United States Navy after 20 years of honorable service. He proudly served aboard the USS Ticonderoga and USS James C. Owens. While aboard the USS Ticonderoga and USS James C. Owens, he saw combat action during the Korean War and the Vietnam Conflict. Jim was awarded Combat Air Crew Wings with three gold stars, having flown over 70 combat missions during the Korean War, where he was a Flight Engineer on P2V Neptunes. He taught Survival, Escape, Resistance, and Evasion (SERE) training and college math while stationed at Warner Springs, CA and Millington, TN. Some of his duty stations included Subic Bay, Philippines, Iwakuni and Okinawa, Japan, Hawaii, San Diego, CA, Warner Springs, CA, San Francisco, CA, Charleston, SC, Pensacola, FL, Cincinnati, OH, Millington, TN, and Beeville, TX. Some of the medals and ribbons Jim was awarded include the Good Conduct with 4 bronze stars, National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one bronze star for Laos and Korea, Vietnam Service Medal 3 bronze stars, Korean Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960's Device, Rifle S-Sharpshooter and Pistol S-Sharpshooter. He is preceded in death by his parents; his infant brother Cleon; his beloved uncle, Earl Counts; his sister-in law Joyce Counts; and his brothers-in-law Thomas Ferguson and Anthony McGonigal. His wonderful dogs will be waiting for his arrival at heaven's gate: Mandy, Prancer, Chewey and Honey. James was a devoted husband to Pearl (Fraze) Counts of Bonnerdale for 57 years; a loving father of James (Karen) Counts of Caddo Gap, Kathy Ives of Bakersfield, California, and Melissa (Alex) Kendall of Gulfport, Mississippi; a devoted grandfather of Brandon Counts, Kara Jade (Justin) Baker, Samantha Ives, Ian Ives, Hailey Kendall and Hayden Kendall; an endearing great-grandfather to Matthew Ives-Hernandez and Ashton Baker. Jim is also survived by his brother Dexter Counts of Bonnerdale and three sisters, Jeanette (Michael) Canady of Memphis, Linda McGonigal of Lewisburg, Tennessee and Beverly (Manny) Salaz of Arizona. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, November 6, 2014 in the Davis-Smith Funeral Home Chapel, Glenwood with Bro. Bob Wiyott officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday evening, 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Interment with full military honors will be held at Nelson Cemetery under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood. Pallbearers will be James Counts, Brandon Counts, Alex Kendall, Clint McKellar, Jordan McKellar and Justin Baker. Memorials may be made to the Nelson Cemetery, P O Box 149, Glenwood, Arkansas 71943. Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.