It’s with profound unhappiness that we announce Colonel Charles James Ekvall, Jr., U. S. Military, retired, handed away on 10 January 2025 after a 5-year lengthy journey with most cancers.
Jim confronted his prognosis and his remedy courageously with grit and willpower alongside together with his ever-present optimism and enthusiastic character.
Jim was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on 2 June 1963 to the late Charles J. Ekvall and Lila Addison Ekvall. Throughout his childhood, his father’s navy profession took the household to quite a few stateside areas and Germany earlier than he moved to Chickamauga the place he graduated highschool in 1982. He attended West Georgia Faculty the place he and his spouse, LeAnn, met. Jim went on to earn his grasp’s diploma from Louisiana State College. Jim’s navy service spanned 29 years and 13 strikes. He was a proud Discipline Artilleryman. All through his service he had a number of key employees assignments together with as an observer/controller on the Joint Readiness Coaching Middle, Fort Polk, Louisiana, Fireplace Help Teacher at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, service on the Worldwide Army Workers at NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium, Discipline Artillery Power Integrator for the Military G3 on the Pentagon and because the Military’s Chief of Digital Warfare as a Colonel, additionally on the Pentagon. Jim’s true skilled love was being with, main and mentoring Troopers. His first project after the Discipline Artillery Primary Course was service as a hearth course officer and platoon chief in 6-14 th FA, 1 st Armored Division Artillery, Federal Republic of Germany, then service as Alpha Battery Commander in 2 nd Bn, 320 th Discipline Artillery, 101 st Airborne Division, service as a Battalion Operations Officer and Battalion Government Officer in 2 nd Bn, 15 th Discipline Artillery, 10 th Mountain Division. He commanded 1-78 th Discipline Artillery Battalion, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Jim deployed to Iraq twice, as soon as with the 173 rd Airborne Brigade and, once more, as an advisor to an Iraqi Division Commander. His awards and decorations embrace the Legion of Benefit, Bronze Star and Protection Meritorious Service Medal amongst others. He was licensed to put on the Air Assault Badge, Parachutists Badge and the Military Workers Identification Badge. He was an honored recipient of the Historic Order of St. Barbara. Due to his service, he obtained the Distinguished Alumnus Award for Excellent Skilled Achievement from Gordon Lee Memorial Excessive College in 2009. After retirement from the Military, Jim and LeAnn relocated to the Augusta, GA space the place Jim labored because the Chief of TCM EW at Fort Eisenhower, then as a historical past professor at Georgia Army Faculty and, most just lately, as a Enterprise Improvement Supervisor for Superior Applied sciences Leaders, Inc. Aside from his skilled life, Jim most most popular spending his time with LeAnn and the children. He had a eager curiosity in historical past and loved studying fascinating info aboutthe locations he lived and the locations he travelled to. He delighted in serving as a tour information to household and associates who visited. He and LeAnn may very well be discovered at property gross sales most weekends and he acquired a kick out of exhibiting folks the issues of their home that got here from these gross sales. Jim was greater than life, humorous as hell, beneficiant and considerate, and he at all times made these round him really feel vital. It’s laborious to think about a world with out him in it, however he lives on within the recollections of those that knew and cherished him. Along with his father, Jim was additionally preceded in loss of life by his firstborn son, Caden James, his maternal grandparents, Charles and Frances Addison, and his paternal grandparents, Leslie and Lula Ekvall.
He’s survived by his loving spouse of 37 years, LeAnn, his daughter, Madelyn (Wolfgang), son, Sam, his mom, Lila A. Lesley, his sister, Noelle (Gordon) Snodgrass, his stepmother, Teri Ekvall, his stepsister, Cher (David) Smith, sisters-in-law, brothers-in- legislation, quite a few aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Household and associates are invited to pay their respects at a visitation on Wednesday, 15 January from 4-7 or Thursday, 16 January from 11-12 at Heritage Funeral House and Crematory. A funeral service will likely be held at midday Thursday, 16 January within the Heritage Chapel. Burial will observe at 1:30 at Chattanooga Nationwide Cemetery.
The household requests those that want to categorical sympathy to think about making a donation to the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Middle in Augusta, Georgia or to St. Jude.
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to the household, please go to our floral retailer.
