Jim Halburnt of Mt. Juliet TN passed away Tuesday, November 12^th at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital in Lebanon TN.

In high school, he was captain of both the basketball and football teams, leading them to victory on multiple occasions.

He joined the United States Marine Corps at 17 and served over 23 years in Marine Air Traffic Control units specializing in Radar. He played a role in the iconic Battle of Khe Sanh during the Vietnam War when he was a Staff Sergeant. Rising from the lowest enlisted rank of Private, he retired as a Captain, earning the distinction as a Mustang of the Corps.

After retiring, Jim had a second career as a Radar Technician with the FAA. He took part of the Nashville Airport’s transition from a metropolitan to an international airfield and retired after 22 years of service there.

Double retirements allowed him to indulge his great passion for working in his yard. He was an avid gardener and took pride in having his well-manicured property designated as a Backyard Habitat by The National Wildlife Federation.

Jim served as a deacon and Gideon for many years. He was also a part of his church security team – still ready and willing to protect those he loved in his later years.

He was married to the love of his life, Barbara, for 67 years.  She was the center of the family with 4 children, always ready with home-cooked meals, easy laughs and warm hugs. They spent many of the early years moving from one duty station to the next, but finally found a home in Mt. Juliet TN.

He was preceded in death by his father Edgar, mother Blanche, and many of his brothers and sisters.

Jim is survived by wife Barbara Halburnt (née Coker), children Lisa and John Rush, Lori and Ricky Ferrell, Ricky Halburnt, John Halburnt, granddaughter Olivia Rush, and loyal puppy Caden.

Services will be held on Saturday, November 16th at Sharp Funeral Home in Oliver Springs Tn. Visitation is from 11am- 1pm EST. The funeral begins at 1pm EST.  Afterward, the burial will be at Estes Cemetery in Coalfield TN.