Biography: James Boyd Christian, 100 years old, died on October 13, 2019. Jim was born on December
22.1918 and was the third child of Charles and Chloe Christian of Texarkana Arkansas. Jim
attended public schools in Texarkana, North Little Rock, and Little Rock, and graduated from
the Little Rock Senior High School (now Central High) in 1935. He graduated from Hendrix
College in 1940 and then volunteered in the Army Air Corps Flying Cadet program. Jim
graduated from that program in September 1941 and was assigned as a flying instructor at
Brooks Air Base in San Antonio Texas.
Jim served all of the war years at Brooks and Vance Air Base in Enid Oklahoma and then
served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Program. He retired from the program with the military
rank of Lt. Colonel. In Little Rock, he had a long career with Riggs Tractor Company.
Jim and Louise Lindahl, of Malvern Arkansas, were married in December 1941 and returned to
Little Rock after Jim was discharged from service. They were both active in programs of the
First United Methodist Church. In addition, Jim served in the Pulaski County Master
Gardeners’ Program until suffering a stroke in 2001. Vacations and travel, both domestic and
foreign, were always enjoyed with another couple.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Chloe Christian; his sister, Emily; his
brother Charles; his wife Louise Lindahl Christian, and his brother in law, George Lindahl. He is
survived by his son, James Boyd Christian, Jr. (wife -Trish); grandson Boyd Christian (wife-
Tricia); granddaughter, Elizabeth Smith (spouse, Randy); and five great grandchildren - Connor,
Davis, and Griffin Smith and Anna and Grant Christian; sister in law, Chiqui Lindahl; and cousin
Leo McCurdy.
Funeral arrangements are by Ruebel Home and the memorial service will be at the First United
Methodist Church in Little Rock at 11 AM on Saturday, November 16 with a reception to follow