Obituary of James John Frimmel

Jim Frimmel was born Oct. 23, 1931 in Jersey City, NJ, of parents John “Skeets” Frimmel and Katherine “Kay” (McFadden) Frimmel. In Jun. 1949 he graduated from Daniel P. Sweeney High School in Bayonne, NJ. Jim’s first job was in Manhattan at Standard Brands, Inc., where he stayed until enlisting in the Air Force in 1951.Stationed at DOW Air Force Base, Bangor, Maine, he received photography training, which impacted both his professional and personal life. While stationed at Carswell AFB, Fort Worth, TX, Jim wed Beverly Louise Thompson in 1954, a marriage which lasted 48 years until her death in 2002. In Fort Worth they added to their family with sons, James “Jim” John, Jr. and Mark Christopher.Jim’s record the next twenty years comprised of: Brady (Itazuke) AFB, Fukuoka, Japan 1958-61 (aerial photography); Kelly AFB, San Antonio, TX 1961-65 (training cadets);Pentagon 1965-69 (serving Joint Chiefs of Staff); Caserma Ederle, Vicenza, Italy 1969-74 (NATO), Washington D.C. 1974-75. Multiple times he received recognition for his service,including the Air Force Good Conduct Medal and Small Arms Expert Marksmanship in 1964, the Detachment 9 Commander’s Award in 1973, the Meritorious Service Medal in 1974, and theAir Force Commendation Medal in 1975. Jim retired Sep. 1, 1975 with the rank of Master Sergeant.As a civilian, Jim worked at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. In 1980 he received a Commendable Service Award for developing a new training program. He and his wife Beverly both retired and moved back to Fort Worth, TX in 1982.During retirement he was involved in shortwave radio, winning acclaim for his Macintosh computer program Shortwave Navigator and earning the WRTH 1989 award for Most Innovative Software. He was Program Manager of the Monitoring Times and attended multiple Programming Conferences.In 2004 Jim married a second time to Myrna Jeanette Kidd. They had 15 years of marriage until her death in 2019. Since retiring in 1982, Jim continued traveling either with family or with long-time friends, Don and Charlene Heitman of Colorado. Since 2020 he resided at Morningside of Wilmington, NC, close to family.“Time stays long enough for anyone who will use it.” – Leonardo da VinciSurvivors: siblings Ronnie Claire (Michael) Caposello, Merry Frimmel, John Frimmel; children Mark (Jerilyn) Frimmel, Jim(Irina) Frimmel, Jr. and grandchildren with Sam (Frank)Frimmel: Anna (Brandon) Echols, Joy Frimmel, Danielle (Andy) Powers, Gloria (Charlie) Thorpe; great-grandchildren Gabriel, Jonah and Rose Powers; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and other family.