Oct. 23, 1928 –

May 6, 2011

A memorial service for retired U.S. Air Force Col. James R. “Jim” Lillethun, 82, of Bainbridge, who died May 6, 2011, at his residence, will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, in the Langston Garden of Bainbridge Little Theatre.

Col. Lillethun was born Oct. 23, 1928, in Williston, N.D., the son of Albert Thomas Lillethun and Alice Irene Neston Lillethun. He was a graduate of Ronan, Mont., High School and attended George Washington University.

He was a retired colonel with 30 years of service in the U.S. Air Force and served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He served as president of the Bainbridge Little Theatre for 10 years and was instrumental in the demolition and reconstruction of the current home of Bainbridge Little Theatre donated by the Langston family. He was a founding member of the Bainbridge-Decatur County Council for the Arts and the Riverside Artsfest. He was a member of the Bainbridge College Foundation and founded the Maxie Helen and James R. Lillethun Scholarship, which was the first scholarship established at Bainbridge College. He attended First Presbyterian Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Maxie Sasser Lillethun.

Survivors include his daughters, Kathryn Lillethun of Bainbridge and Abby Lillethun of Teaneck, N.J.; his sister, Louise Sullivan of Townsend, Mont.; and his fiancée, Arlene Rentz of Bainbridge.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bainbridge College Foundation, 2500 E. Shotwell St., Bainbridge, GA 39819.

Ivey Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.