James Alan Foley 6/23/1952-5/29/2025

A Life Well Lived

Jim passed away peacefully at home. He spent a lifetime taking care of his family and friends. He was one of the lucky ones who got to have his hobbies as jobs, and he loved them all. He loved his 4 kids (Karoline Elizabeth "Mousy", 54, Denise Allean "Niesey", 51, Melissa Lorraine, 48 and Erik, 32), his daughters' Mom (Monika "Pony" Foley), 9 grandkids (Melanie, 33, Kody, 31, Gabby, 26, Devin, 22, Ethan, 20, Emma, 20, Christopher, 10, Samuel, 8 and Isabella, 6 and 4 great grandkids (Liam, 11, Logann, 9, Robin, 1, Ellie, 4 months) and were so proud of them all. All his family meant a lot to him; his Mom & Dad (Bertha Allean & Jim Stanley Foley), his 3 sisters, his nieces & nephews, his grandparents, his aunts & uncles, his cousins and both his in-law families.

Born at Mercy Hospital in San Diego. His nickname Bud or Buddy growing up, stuck with him. They moved around due to their Dad's work. First to Escondido, then to Santa Maria where he went to Lakeview Elementary School, then to Wilmington where he went to Stephen M. White Junior High School in Torrance, then to Redondo Beach and then finally to Lompoc, all CA. Went to Lompoc Valley Middle School and Lompoc High School.

I was very lucky to have spent the last 35 years with him. He was my no 1 in the WWW (Whole Wide World) and I was his Grey Eyes. He could make me so mad sometimes as I know I could him, too, but we always made up and that was the best part. I could get lost in his arms, his smell and feel so safe – like nothing else mattered in life. We met at Volunteer Flight Training in Clarksville, TN, where he worked part time. Eventually I went back home to Norway, but came back, as it was meant to be. He taught me a lot. He could fix almost anything. We traveled many places together including Norway and Alaska and worked together on airplanes. He loved music. We always listened and sang to music every time we drove places. He loved to tease, the more he teased you the more he liked you. He had so many funny expressions, "Jimisms" as a good friend calls them.

After over 20 yrs in the Army, he retired as CW3 (Chief Warrant Officer 3) from 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault, Fort Campbell, Clarksville, TN, in 1991. He was almost 11 yrs (2 tours) in Germany, where he met and married Monika Anne Marie Pfaffel. They were married for 18 yrs. He always talked highly of her and her family in Germany. He did stints in South-Korea, Honduras and with the Multinational Force & Observers (MFO) in Sinai, Egypt. His last mission was "Dessert Storm" in Saudi-Arabia. He loved his helicopters. He worked on them all, Huey's (UH-1) being his favorite, but also UH-60 Black Hawks and C-47 Chinooks, etc. He was a Crew Chief, Officer in Charge (OIC), Platoon Leader, Supervisor, etc. Among other, he supervised 48 personnel in support of overall maintenance of 192 Rotary Wing Aircrafts including Component Repair, Avionics Repair, Tech Supply, Quality & Production Control, testing/inspections/coordination's, etc.

He worked on rockets/launch vehicles for Lockheed Martin/United Launch Alliance (ULA) for 10 yrs. Atlas IIAS, Titan 4B, Titan II, Athena with Atlas V being the largest, but also on the Minute Man ballistic missile. He also worked a stint for Boeing on their GMD Interceptor Rocket in Alaska. He worked 3 yrs at Naval Air Station Pax River, MD, on their helicopters including V-22 Ospreys and as a Supervisor on their Search & Rescue (SAR) Blackhawks (SH-60), also a stint at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Ridgecrest, CA.

While in the Army he got his FAA/A&P License and worked part time or full time on countless General Aviation aircraft ever since; Pipers, Beechcraft's, Cessnas, including his Dad's Cessnas, Paris Jet, P-51 Mustang, Cessna Conquest, Aerostar, experimental, etc. Later, he got his IA (Inspection Authorization). Countless engine overhauls, annual inspections, repairs, modifications, prebuys, etc. with his own Foley/Aase Aircraft Maintenance with me, his assistant, Jerry, and/or for a while his son, Erik, too. He also worked on VAFB (Vandenberg Air Force Base) Aero Club airplanes and one Civil Air Patrol one, too. He oversaw the maintenance for a few small airplane companies at the Santa Maria Airport, CA, He was nicknamed "The Continental Engine Whisperer" by one of his customers turned friend as so many did. He loved hanging out at the airports and talk mechanics and bull with his fellow buddies, tell stories, help and teach. He taught so many, invented tools, excelled in troubleshooting and wouldn't give up until he figured it out.

Rest in Peace, Jim, Bud, Buddy – We ALL love you.