Felix Coleman "F. C." Shoffner

Felix Coleman "F. C." Shoffner, Jr., 87 of Trimble, Tennessee died on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at his residence in Trimble, Tennessee.

Born Thursday, July 16, 1931 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, he was the son of the late Felix Shoffner and the late Lelia Walton Shoffner. He obtained his pilots license at the age of 15 while living in the state of Washington where his father worked on the Manhattan Project. He also served in the Civil Air Patrol while living in Washington before moving back to Trimble, Tennessee, where he graduated from Trimble High School. Not being able to afford college, he joined the Army Air Corp at age 17 which shortly thereafter became the United States Air Force. After basic training he went to radio operator school where he became proficient in morse code. Graduating at the top his class, he was sent to Russian linguist school to learn Russian Code, He was to become the first to ever intercept Russian Code while flying B29 combat missions over North Korea. He received the Combat Air Medal of Honor for these missions. In 1966, he was part of the Broken Arrow Mission to recover nuclear weapons that were lost over Palomares Spain after a bomber collided with a refueling tanker over Spain, After twenty years of service to his country, he retired to return to Trimble, Tennessee. After a few years of farming he returned to a career as a pilot, flying for State Representative Don Dills and later Forcum Lannom of Dyersburg. He quit flying at the age of seventy after being a pilot for fifty-five years. His missions over Korea were declassified in the 1990's and was interviewed and included in the book called " The Price of Vigilance." He was a devoted husband of almost sixty-five years, loving father, Sunday school and Bible Study teacher at Trimble United Methodist Church, where he was a member.

Funeral services for Mr. Shoffner will be 2:00 PM on Friday, September 28, 2018 at the Trimble United Methodist Church. Officiating the service will be Rev. Marti Bunch. Interment will follow in Pierce Cemetery in Trimble, Tennessee. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Johnson-Williams Funeral Home and on Friday from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Trimble United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Pope (Bryan) of Trimble, Tennessee; two sons, John Shoffner (Rosa) of Newbern, Tennessee and David Shoffner of Union City, Tennessee; one brother, Marty Shoffner (Dava) of Knoxville, Tennessee; seven grandchildren, Bryce Pope of Maryville, Tennessee, Nina White (Jason) of Jackson, Tennessee, Carrie Shoffner, Amber Shoffner and Jenna Shoffner all of Newbern, Tennessee, Tansye Autry (Michael) of Newbern, Tennessee and Cassye Thompson (Brandon) of Dyersburg, Tennessee and ten great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife of sixty four years, Nannie Mae Jones Shoffner. and one sister, Sarah Shoffner.

Pallbearers will be Bryan Pope, Bruce Pope, Robert Pope, Chris Young, Steven Parker, Terry Parker, Greg Donaldson and Jason White. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Brewer and Woody Clifton and Ray Burton.

The family ask that memorial contributions be directed to the Trimble United Methodist Church, 308 East Mitchell Street, Trimble, Tennessee 38259 or the Salvation Army.

Online condolences may be made to the family at johnsonwilliamsfuneralhome.com. Johnson-Williams Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Felix Colman Shoffner, Jr.

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