James Harlan Bailey, 67, of Avon passed away at home on Monday Feb 21, 2011 after a battle with cancer.

He was born June 19, 1943 to Jess and Mabel (Sickman) Bailey in Huntingburg , Ind. He was married Aug. 21, 1965 to Sarah Louise Dodson in Mt Carmel, Ill.

He is survived by parents Jess and Mabel Bailey of Oakland City, Ind., wife Sarah of Avon, daughters Jennifer M. Newton (Craig) of Bloomington , Ind., and Susan E. Eldridge (David) of Cookeville, Tenn., granddaughters Eliza and Emma Eldridge and brothers Steve (Connie) Bailey of Holland, Mich., and Tony (Joan) Bailey of Oakland City, Ind. He is also survived by sister-in-law Shirley Carnes of Lebanon , Ind. , and brothers-in-law Jim (Karen) Dodson of Mitchell , Ind., and Ron Dodson (Sue) of Crawfordsville , Ind.

He was a member of the Plainfield Church of Christ where he had served as deacon. He had a special interest in airplanes and was a long time member of the Plainfield Screaming Eagles Radio Controlled Airplane Club.

He served in Vietnam with the 131st Aviation Co. where he flew as an observer on Mohawk aircraft and was a member of the Mohawk Aircraft Assoc.

He was a graduate of Purdue University in Aviation Technology and was employed 41 years as an aircraft mechanic with Trans World Airlines and American Airlines working in St. Louis, Mo. , and Indianapolis, retiring in 2006.

Visitation will be at the Hampton Gentry Funeral home in Plainfield, Ind. on Thursday, Feb. 24 from 2-7 p.m. with services on Friday at 9:30 am at the Plainfield Church of Christ. Burial is at Maple Hill Cemetery, Plainfield.