James Olen Gist was born August 25, 1923 in Nella, Scott County, Arkansas to James Albert & Effie E Richmond Gist. Olen had a twin brother J Nolen Gist who also served. His story is posted on his page. Olen married Billie Sue Wagner. After graduating from Fort Smith High School Olen enlisted in the US Army Air Corps at Camp Chaffee, Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Arkansas in October 1942. His service is told in his obit below. After the war he served with the 188th in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., until his retirement leaving the Air Force as a Major. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Find A Grave Olen Gist, 91, of Fort Smith passed away Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, in Fayetteville. He was born Aug. 25, 1923, in Nella. He was self-employed for 50-plus years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, a 32nd-degree mason, graduate of Fort Smith Senior High School class of 1942 and attended Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Tulsa. He was a B-26 pilot/instructor in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After World War II, he enlisted in the 188th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the Arkansas Air National Guard in Fort Smith and retired from the Air Force Reserve as a major. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with private family burial at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Billie; his children, Susan Sloan and husband Richard of Fort Smith, Steve Gist and wife Lucy of Fort Smith and Lisa Gibson and husband Howard of Atkins; two brothers, twin brother Nolan Gist of Henderson, Nev. and Richard Gist of Mandeville, La.; one sister, Willa Mae Ostercamp of Kelsey, Iowa; grandchildren, Jeff Gist and wife Liz, Joel Gist, John Gist and Russell Gibson and Molly Gipson; and one great-granddaughter, Sloan Gist. Pallbearers will be his grandsons and sons-in-law.