James Fillinger Sr.

James Fillinger Sr.

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- James Alonzo Fillinger Sr., 69, of Marble Hill died Friday, July 3, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Born Jan. 19, 1940, in Paris, Ill., he was the son of John Andrew and Dorothy Irene Delischmidt Fillinger Sr.

He and Mary Miller were married Nov. 15, 1958. She died July 9, 1984. He later married Shirley Wylie in Fort Worth, Texs. She survives.

James was a retiree of the U.S. Army as a CW3 helicopter pilot. Before serving in the Army he served five years in the Air Force. He earned many meritorious awards, including the Vietnam Service Medal with one Silver and one Bronze Service Star; the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star; Army Aviator Badge; and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. He served in the states including Alaska, and Germany and Vietnam.

Following his military retirement, Fillinger worked 13 years for the Pittsburg, Texas, high school as an auto mechanics instructor. He moved to Marble Hill in 2004.

He was a member of Bellridge Christian Church in Illinois and VFW Post 3601, also in Illinois.

Besides his wife, survivors include his son, James Fillinger Jr., of Chaffee, Mo.; a daughter, Crystal Fillinger of Houston; a stepson, Robert Wylie of Marble Hill; two brothers, Chester Fillinger of Paxton, Ill., and John Fillinger of Kansas, Ill.; two sisters, Sharon Fillinger and Margaret Newman, both of Paris, Ill.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill.

The funeral will be at noon Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo. The Rev. Fred Ritter will officiate. Graveside military honors will be conducted by VFW Post 5900.