James says he “Entered Primary pilot training Moore AB, TX, Jan 1956, Class 57J; then Greenville AFB, Miss. for T-33 and was awarded wings March 1957. Then to Luke AFB for gunnery school-F84F; Assigned to 461st FDS at Hahn on F-100C, July 1957; Squadron disbanded Feb. 1959; Reassigned to 53rd TFS at Ramstein until mustering out Sept 1960; Joined104th TFS MDANG Feb. 1962-May 1964;
Hired on Pan Amerian World Airways for 27 years and then 3 years Delta Airlines. Retired 1994 to Seattle, WA.”
James “Ron” Nuss, F-100 Pilot, “Headed West” on February 16, 2023.
James “Ron” Nuss, dear husband, father and grandfather, passed away of covid and other complications on February 16, 2023, age 89. Ron was born on January 29, 1934 to Naomi and Charles Nuss in Lehman, PA. Ron graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1955. Being. in ROTC in college, he joined the Air Force to become a fighter pilot stationed in Germany. Ron had 5 wonderful years in the Air Force and made some great life long friends. Imagine a 23 year old being trained and ready to carry a nuclear bomb during the Cold War!
In 1964, Ron joined Pan Am Airways as an engineer and then had a long, great career with Pan Am working up to Captain of the 747 and Airbus 320, enjoying the world. His favorite assignments with Pan Am were twice in Berlin. Once with his first wife, Judi Greenwald, married in 1964, where they became the parents of James and Heidi. Judi sadly died in 1977.
Ron married his second wife of 44 years, Jan Switzer in 1979. From 1985-1990, Ron and Jan, too, had 5 wonderful years in Berlin. Ron retired in 1994 as a Delta pilot after flying 26 years with Pan Am and 4 years with Delta. During his wonderful career, he was based in Seattle, SF, LA and Berlin.
Adding to their family in 1993 were 2 daughters, Larissa and Laissa, adopted from Ukraine, ages 4 and 6. “Welcome to wild life with children again!” Ron was a very dedicated dad, cook, builder, gardener, so knowledgeable about anything and everything. He was a helpful neighbor and friend. He just generally enjoyed life in his quiet and unassuming way. He was such a good man, a wonderful husband and father, a man who could take pleasure traveling the world or in the simplest of things in life. He is so loved and missed.
Ron’s Memorial Service was held on August 12, 2023 at Allyn Historic Church, Allyn, WA 98524.
