NATCHEZ — Services for Robert Percy Mims Jr., who died at his residence in Natchez, will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Trinity Episcopal Church with the Rev. Ken Ritter and Steve Paschall officiating.

Burial will be 1:30 p.m. at the Natchez National Cemetery with full military honors to be rendered.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time at the church.

A celebration of life will follow the burial at Rolling River Bistro on Main Street in Natchez.

Arrangements are under the direction of Riverwood Family Funeral Service in Brookhaven.

“Old Pilots never die, they just fly away” and on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, at 06:45 hours, Bob took off on his final mission to be with his one and only, the love of his life, Virginia, and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Robert P. Mims Jr., “Bob” as he was called by all that knew him, was born on Feb. 19, 1921, in Jackson. He was raised in Jackson by his loving mother, Mignon Tye Kennington.

He attended Jackson Public Schools and transferred to Gulf Coast Military Academy in Gulfport, where he graduated with the class of 1938.

After high school, he attended Mississippi State University where he was a member of the KA Fraternity and he lettered in track. He studied aeronautical engineering until WWII.

Mr. Mims joined the Army Air Corps in 1941, and left for basic training at Camp Shelby. He received his pilot’s wings at Columbus Air Force Base in Meridian in 1942. Following transition training in the B-26 Marauder at Barksdale Field, Shreveport, La., Lt. Mims flew his plane and crew to England by the North Atlantic route in June 1943 to serve with the 8th and later the 9th Air Force. There, he joined the 323rd Bomb Group. 455th Bomb Squadron.

Lt. Mims flew 26 combat missions with the “Whitetail Marauders” and on the last mission, he was shot down over Northern France on Feb. 5, 1944.

He was captured by the Germans and became a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 1 in Barth Germany on the Baltic Sea near Poland.

In April of 1945, after returning home after the war, he married the love of his life, Virginia Price of Canton. Together they were stationed at Edwards AFB, Phoenix. He held the rank of Captain, U.S. Air Force as research and development pilot until medically retired. He was the last surviving member of his Marauder crew the “Swamp Chicken,” which he piloted and named.

For his service and heroism, he earned the following: The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Purple Heart, Four Air Medals, The Prisoner of War Medal, The European Theater Medal with Battle Star, Additional Campaign Medals and the French Legion of Honor.

After retirement from the military, he attended Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., where he graduated with honors in horology, hand engraving, jewelry design, jewelry repairs, jewelry manufacturing and business.

Mr. Mims moved his family to Natchez in 1952 to manage Herman’s Jewelers. Two years later, he opened and managed the jewelry department at Dixon’s. He was there for 11 years.

In 1965, Bob and Virginia along with their six children opened their own business. Robert Mims Jeweler on Main Street in downtown Natchez. Mr. Mims continued creating jewelry, including many “one of a kind” hand forged pieces until he was 95.

Over the years, he earned some of the highest honors in the jewelry industry. He was a graduate gemologist of the Gemological Institute of America, registered jeweler and certified gemologist with the American Gem Society, master jeweler with the IJO, master goldsmith, Jeweler of the Year, past president and lifetime member of the Mississippi Jewelers Association. He was also past president of the Dixie Guild.

In 1978/1979, Mr. Mims was chosen from 300 entries as one of 26 jewelers in North America to create a “one of a kind” pair of cufflinks for the American Gemstones Jewelry Collection through the American Gem Society in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., where it is on display.

Mr. Mims was past president of the Lions Club and past president of the Downtown Merchants Association. He led the Ground Observer Corps for Adams County. He was a member of the 455th Bomb Squadron Association.

For a number of years his hobby was building and flying airplanes. He built an RV-4 from scratch. He loved his old Tri-Pacer (N5730D) that he restored. Before Virginia died, they flew all over the USA and the Bahamas and competed in a number of EAA fly-ins. He always got a kick from receiving the “Oldest Pilot” award.

He loved fishing with the family, salt or freshwater, wherever they were bitin’. During his semi-retirement, he and Virginia bought a little lake house on Lake St. John so they could just sit on the pier and fish.

Later in life he enjoyed his weekly Thursday night scooter rides down to Fat Mamas to visit with his buddies. Special thanks to Sherra Arnold for her delicious meals that made him smile.

He was preceded in death were his mother and wife, Virginia Price Mims.

Survivors include six children, Robert Price Mims and wife, Diane, of Oxford, Nancy Mims McLeod and husband, Robby, of Fannin, Virginia Mignon Mims of Jackson, James Buford “Boo” Mims and Vicki Barlow, Tye Phillips Mims and Virginia Little “Ginger” Mims, all of Natchez; special family, Julia Mae Johnson; five grandchildren, Robert David Mims and wife, Teri, of Clearwater, Fla., Katherine Tye McLeod Smith and husband, Jason, of Fannin, Whitney Mims Dollar and husband, Justin, and Fletcher Price Mims, all of Natchez, James Mims McLeod and wife, Meagan, of Londonderry, N.H., and “Katie” who never left his side; six great-grandchildren, Avery Tye Smith, Hadley Clare Mims, Sawyer Kate Dollar, Lane Katherine Smith, Braden Robert Mims and Robert Parker Dollar; and brother Robert Brady Mims of Jackson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Parker, Richard Crook, Archie Willett, Geno Deschamps, Barbara Rodriguez, Sherry Hanson, Max Tullos, John Hunter Parker, Ken Allen, John and Sharon Goodrich and Chris Jackson.

With gratitude, the family wishes to thank Mark LaFrancis and Jimmy Allgood with “The Bob Mims Miss-Lou Patriotic Golf Tournament,” also Maybelle Jackson, Ph.D., DNP, FNP-BC and the staff of the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Veterans Administration Medical Center Home Based Primary Care, Dr. Brad Le May, Dr. Dennis La Ravia and Lauvette Baker.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Home with Heroes Foundation Helping Local Veterans at homewithheros.org., Trinity Episcopal Church, 305 S. Commerce St., or Cathedral School.

SINE ALIS VOLAMUS

Online condolences may be sent to the family at riverwoodfamily.com.