James "Jim" Boots

James (Jim) Boots, 88, of Wichita, Kansas, passed away on April 25. Jim was born on April 17, 1938, in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Rudolph and Dorothy Boots. Jim is survived by his wife Sue, his three children, Jim, Deb, and Tom, and his stepchildren, Sarah, Bob, and Brian, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife Annette, his sister Chris, his brothers Rudy and Phil, and his grandson Spencer. 

Jim’s childhood was spent in Secaucus, New Jersey, where he was a good student and an avid basketball player. At age 19, he married Annette, his high school sweetheart, and joined the army. Within a year, their first son, Jimmy, was born. They moved to army bases throughout the southeastern US. While Jim was serving in Korea, his daughter, Debbie, was born. Second son, Tommy, rounded out the young family. Soon after, the family moved to a US base in Germany for a year. Following that, Jim spent a year in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. 

Jim resigned from the army in 1968, but the adventures did not stop. As a civilian, Jim became a helicopter pilot instructor in Mineral Wells, Texas, where the family stayed for several years. During that time, in addition to his full-time instructor job, Jim sold insurance and mutual funds. He bought a ski boat and a tent that provided many fun family weekends at Possum Kingdom Lake. 

In 1973, Jim took a job with Bell Helicopter in Isfahan, Iran, where the family spent several years, finally leaving when the Iranian Revolution happened in 1979. Subsequently, Jim and Annette moved to Louisiana, where Jim started a computer-training company called CTS, which continues to operate successfully. He ended his working years as a Flight Center Manager at Flight Safety in Wichita, Kansas, while nurturing a transition of CTS to the next generation of ownership. 

After Annette’s passing in 1996, Jim was lucky to meet and marry Sue Henning. Their two families meshed seamlessly and spent many holiday dinners together, watching their children’s families grow. 

Jim was known for his devotion to many hobbies and avocations, including chess, magic, remote control model airplanes, sailing, photography, theater, and wood carving. Jim became an excellent photographer and, travelling with Sue, he applied his skills on all seven continents. He was extraordinarily generous, and he touched the hearts of many people. He will be missed. 

A memorial service for Jim will be held on Saturday, May 2, at 4:00 pm at Station 8 BBQ, 1100 E. 3rd St. N., Wichita. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the American Cancer Society and the Sedgwick County Zoo. Share condolences at www.cozine.com. Arrangements by Cozine Memorial Group-Cozine Life Events Center.