James “Jim” Ransford was born on Oct. 22, 1924, and passed away peacefully on Saturday, Aug. 26.
He grew up in the hills of Hollywood and joined the Army Air Corps in February 1943.
He rose to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and commanded a Loran (long range navigation) station at Big Sur guiding the planes home from the war in the Pacific.
He subsequently graduated from Cal with an engineering degree and went to work as an aerospace engineer for McDonnell Douglas.
Jim married Carol Kassler in November 1953 and was widowed in 1974 when Carol passed away.
They had four children: Marl (married Linda), Ken (Emily), Sara (Gordon) and Julie (Bob).
Subsequently, Jim met Barbara Reager, also widowed, and they married in July 1978.
Barbara added three children to the brood: Kevin (Ally), Karen (Leon) and Craig (Robin).
After Jim’s early retirement, he and Barbara traveled to every corner of the world, but always returned to their beloved home in the Palisades and their ever-enlarging family.
As the years went by they added 14 grandchildren and six “great-grands.”
Papa is survived by his wife Barbara and all of their descendants.
A letter from their 8-year-old great-grand:
“Dear Papa,
I hope this has been a good life for you. I hope you rest up and go to God.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX, Landon”
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