Loyd James "LJ" Overfield, 86, passed away on March 13, 2006.
He was born June 11, 1918, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was one of seventeen children of Scott Westfield Overfield and Florence Belle (Hill) Overfield.
His early childhood was spent in Hiawatha, Kansas until the family moved to Leavenworth in 1925, where his father Scott was known as "Popcorn Man". L.J. was a graduate of Leavenworth High School. As a young man he traveled with the circus and worked with a highwire act and was featured in the Spiral Tower Act.
He married Patti Aileen Warner on May 5, 1939, in Leavenworth and they became parents of seven children. After their marriage he joined the Fort Leavenworth Fire Department and became the Fire Chief's driver.
In World War II he became a fighter pilot flying P-51 "Mustangs" and P-47 "Thunderbolts" over France with the 354th "Pioneer" Fighter Group. He was credited with 16 victories in arial combat and was the first in his group to shoot down a German jet aircraft. He was once shot down behind enemy lines and led to safety by French partisans. His many decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 16 Oak Clusters, the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
After the war he returned briefly to the Leavenworth Fire Department before becoming a fire insurance investigator for the Kansas Inspection Bureau, from which he retired after 33 years.
He spent his retirement years enjoying his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Patti of the home, his daughter, Sue Houser of Lubbock, Texas, four sons, Loyd James II, Robert Scott and Dana Allen of Leavenworth and Charles Nelson of Niceville, Florida, 10 granchildren, 13 grandchildren, two sisters, Maxine Dunbar and Rose Stewart of Leavenworth and one brother Nelson of Harlingen, Texas. He was preceeded in death by a son and daughter , his parents, seven sisters and six brothers.
Visitation will be from 10:30 to 11:30am Thursday, March 16, 2006 at the Davis Funeral Chapel. The funeral service will be at 11:30am Thursday at the funeral chapel. The very Reverand Michael Munro will officiate. Burial will follow in the Mount Muncie Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to the American Cancer Society.