JAMES MAXWELL "JIM" COOKSEY, SR., age 88, of Irving since 1955, died peacefully with his family at his side, Tuesday, April 19, 2011. Born November 16, 1922, at Williams Ranch in Mills County, TX, to Thomas Denton and Grace Rutherford Cooksey, he grew up in and around Mullin, Texas. Max (Jim to many) served in the Army Air Corp, was trained as a night glider pilot, and flew a P-47 fighter plane during World War II. Following his military service, he was a flight instructor in Sanderson, TX. He returned to Mills County, met and married Norma Sue Powell of Zephyr, TX, on May 5, 1950. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in aeronautical engineering from University of Texas in Austin. He was employed as an engineer at LTV aerospace in Grand Prairie for 33 years, retiring as manager of their Wind Tunnel Laboratories. Upon retirement in 1988, he worked independently as an engineering consultant, was a lecturer in the Aerospace Engineering Department at UTA, and volunteered his services and talents to the Silent Wings Glider Museum, formerly located in Terrell, TX. Preceded in death by his wife Sue and infant daughter Kathleen, he is survived by children Rebecca and John Yarbrough of Nacogdoches, Jim and Liz Cooksey of Frisco, Martha Cooksey and Colleen and Mark Turner of Grand Prairie; grandchildren John Denton Yarbrough of Albuquerque, NM, and Catherine Turner of Grand Prairie. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 pm at Donnellys Colonial Funeral Home on Thursday, April 21, 2011. Funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, at Plymouth Park Church of Christ, 1710 W. Airport Freeway in Irving with Dr. Paul Magee officiating. Graveside service will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 25, at Oak View Cemetery in Mullin, TX. Memorial contributions may be made to the Silent Wings Museum, 6202 North I 27, Lubbock, TX, 79403, phone 806-775-3049, silentwings.ci.lubbock.tx.us.