James F. McRae

James Francis McRae, 87 of Charleston, South Carolina, passed away on Friday, May 13, 2022.

He was born in Cambridge, MA on May 17, 1934, and was preceded in death by his parents, James R McRae and Margaret Ward McRae, brother, Alan McRae, and two sisters-Patricia Hannon and Mary Robinson.

Jim was very proud to have served in the Navy as a Naval Aviator for 25 years. After serving two tours in Vietnam, he and his family made the journey to Rota, Spain where he served as Commanding Officer of Electronic Warfare Squadron VQ-2. During his career as a Naval Aviator, he amassed more than four thousand (4,000) flight hours and over five hundred (500) aircraft carrier landings.

Jim enjoyed many hobbies over the years, including photography (he built his own darkroom), woodworking, and Civil War history, and he spent many years building scale model ships.

Jim is survived by his wife of 66 years Joanne McRae, two sons, Tom (Karen) and Ken (Eva), five grandchildren, Lindsay, Courtney, Ryan, Rachel, and Joseph, brother Don McRae, and many nieces and nephews. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather whose immense joy was his family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Bishop Gadsden’s Residence Assistant Fund-1 Bishop Gadsden Way, Charleston, SC 29412.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, May 23, 2022, at 1:00 PM at The Church of the Nativity; 1061 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412.  Inurnment will immediately follow the mass at 2:00 PM at Holy Cross Cemetery at 604 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC 29412.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at McAlister-Smith.com/.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, James Island Chapel, 347 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, 843-614-8494.