Jimmy "Jim" Jay Minear

Mr. Jimmy (Jim) Minear, 97, passed away Tuesday evening, February 10, 2026 following a brief illness.

He was born in 1928 in Casey, IL to Carl J. and Pearl McDaniel Minear. Jim was interested in aviation at an early age and earned his pilot’s license at sixteen. After serving in the Navy, he earned his Aircraft and Engine mechanics license and was employed by an independent oil development company in their research laboratory and later as co-pilot on their executive aircraft. He also owned a surplus Canadian Pt-19S aircraft which he used for recreational flying.

In 1959 he joined Martin Marietta, Orlando, FL, and worked on both ground and airborne missile systems as an engineering administrator.

In 1981 the company transferred the Navy Vertical Launch program to Baltimore and he took the position of director of administration for the Technical Operations Division.

In 1988 he was assigned to head a public relations office in Aiken for the company who was bidding for Operations of the Savannah River Plant. In this position he met with city and county officials from all surrounding Counties to introduce them to the company and its operations.

He and his wife Betty, who was an executive secretary with Martin, were so pleased to find Aiken that she retired and joined him there during his assignment. Although Martin did not win the contract, they purchased a lot in Houndslake North for their retirement. He was then reassigned to the Navy Vertical Launching System Life Cycle Support Facility in Ventura, CA.

Jim took early retirement from the then Lockheed Martin in 1990 and returned back to Aiken and they had their home constructed.

He volunteered for United Way, Acts, St. John’s Wheelchair Ramp and Salkehatchie Summer Service, and intermittently through the first and the one hundredth Habitat for Humanity homes and twelve years for the Aiken County Veterans Affairs Office.

Surviving are his two sons, Richard (Julie) and Kenneth (Deniese), eight grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty Riggle Minear, his parents and an older brother, Eugene.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday afternoon, February 17th at 2 o’clock in the chapel of St. John’s Methodist Church with The Rev. Greyson “Butch” Blackwell officiating. The service will be livestreamed at https://iframe.dacast.com/b/156599/c/585055   Jim will be inurned with Betty in the church’s columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to St. John’s Methodist Church, P.O. Box 809, Aiken, SC 29802 or to ACTS (actsofaiken.org).

SHELLHOUSE – RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC