James (Jim) Lester Boykin passed away on May 4, 2017. Jim was born on January 6, 1928 in Clarendon, Texas, the oldest child of Edna Matthews Boykin and G. Lester Boykin. He was a longtime resident of Las Cruces, first moving here in June 1937. Jim attended Mesilla Park Elementary, Court Junior High, Las Cruces Union High School and graduated from NMSU (formerly NMA&M) with a BS in Mechanical Engineering (Aero Option) and later, a BS in Electrical Engineering. Jim enlisted in the US Army Air Force near the end of WWII and was a Crew Chief on the Texan T-6 trainer aircraft. After his first tour of duty, Jim earned his first degree from NMSU. Near the end of the Korean War, Jim re-entered the USAF as a 2d Lt and went through pilot training, becoming combat ready in the F-86 Sabre Jet. Jim left the Air Force as a Captain. After earning his second degree from NMSU, Jim accepted a position with Howard Hughes Aircraft in California. When the Apollo Program began to formalize, Jim accepted a position with North American Aviation (NAA) as a flight test engineer, initially in Los Angeles and then with the NAA Space Division which assigned him to the Apollo Propulsion Test Program, sending him to Las Cruces and the NASA White Sands Test Facility (WSTF). Jim was the Test Conductor of the test team on the first rocket engine test at WSTF. NAA merged with Rockwell International and he remained at WSTF as a Test Project Engineer and Engineering Supervisor on Apollo and the Space Shuttle Programs working as a contract engineer at WSTF between those two programs. Jim was awarded the coveted NASA Snoopy Award, presented by the Astronauts for his dedicated efforts in the manned space program. Jim retired from Rockwell International after 22 years of service. Jim was passionate about airplanes and piloting. He had his private license before graduation from high school. He was a flight instructor from 1985 to 2003 and flew many clients, family and friends to various destinations during that time. Jim accumulated about 1050 hours as a Fighter Pilot in the United States Air Force plus another 3000 plus hours in the flight instructor and charter business. His pilot ratings included single engine, multi engine, instrument, flight instructor and commercial pilot. Jim was an active member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church from 1937 until his death, serving on the board of directors and a member of the choir and several small singing groups. He was also a member of the Las Cruces Lions de Noche for over 40 years. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Dulcie, his daughter, Leslie and his brother, Ed Boykin. He is survived by three children; a daughter, Tracy Boykin, and husband, Mark Brindel, of Denver, Colo.; a son, Russell, and wife, Connie, of Pflugerville, Texas; and a daughter, Robin, and husband, Dave Raddatz, of Austin, Texas. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren, one great grandchild, his brother, Ben Boykin, his sister Betty Wolle, their children and grandchildren and the children and grandchildren of his late brother, Ed Boykin. A memorial service will be held at St. Paul' s United Methodist Church on May 27, 2017, at 2.00 p.m. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to La Posada Mesilla Valley Hospice, 299 E. Montana Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88005. Arrangements are with La Paz-Graham's Funeral Home 555 West Amador Las Cruces, NM, 88005. To sign the online guest book: visit www.LaPaz-Grahams.com