Aeronautics Executive Jameson Dies

Frank Gard Jameson, a prominent Southern California aeronautics industry executive and philanthropist, died of a heart attack Sunday while attending a conference at a Rancho Mirage hotel. He was 68.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, followed by private interment rites at Pacific View Cemetery in Newport Beach.

Born in Corona to a third-generation California agricultural family, Jameson attended Stanford University and the Caltech. He served in the Navy as an engineering officer from 1942-46.

After leaving the Navy, Jameson became active in the emerging world of aerospace technology. He was a former president of Teledyne Ryan Aeronautics, senior corporate vice president of North American Rockwell International, board chairman of Glenaire Inc. and director of Lone Star Industries.

His honors and civic activities included being a former honorary consul for Jordan, national president of the Navy League, chairman of trustees of the Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge, Pa., and a founder of Conquistadores del Cielo, an international organization of aerospace and airlines executives.

In recent years he also founded a charitable organization to assist El Barill, a rural, poverty-stricken fishing community in Baja California.

Jameson was formerly married to actress Eva Gabor. He was the father-in-law of Gary Hunt, executive vice president of the Irvine Co.

Jameson lived in La Jolla and Los Angeles for many years before moving to Rancho Mirage about eight years ago.

Survivors include two sons, Jim Jameson of Rancho Santa Fe and Frank Gard Jameson Jr. of Boulder City, Nev.; two daughters, Joanne Jameson Hunt of Corona del Mar and Mary Gard Jameson of Beverly Hills, and seven grandchildren.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Frank Gard Jameson El Barill Memorial Fund, 41915 Tonopah, Rancho Mirage, Calif. 92270.