* James A. Lires; Retired Electrician, WWII Veteran
James Angel Lires, a retired electrician, died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer. He was 78.
He was born Nov. 16, 1922, in Santa Paula and attended school there. He also attended Ventura High School.
Lires enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and was a technical sergeant with the 549th Bombardment Squadron and the 385th Group. He was a flight maintenance gunner who was shot down during a B-17 bomber mission over Germany. Resistance fighters helped him, but he was later captured and held prisoner for 18 months until the end of the war. Among the many medals he received was the Purple Heart.
Lires was an electrician and a member of IBEW Local 952 and Elks Lodge No. 1430.
He was preceded in death by brothers Larry and Andy Lires, and sister Lillian Scurlock.
In addition to his wife of 38 years, he is survived by daughters Linda Lires Shores of Northern California, Bonnie Fallon of Alaska and Judith Fero Tickell of Hawaii; brother Ray; 10 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services are at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Buenaventura Mission, with Rev. Patrick O’Brien officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction of Guardian Memorial Funeral Center of Oxnard.
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