James Wesley Aultman

James Wesley Aultman, 81, passed away on August 14, 2025 at Southland Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Lufkin, Texas. Jim was born on December 2, 1943 in Biloxi, Mississippi to Mary Sue Rhodes (1915-2000) and Vallous Valoice Aultman (1910-1963) and grew up in Jacinto City with his sister Kay Lindquist Davidson (1947-2022), on Houston’s east side. Jim graduated from Galena Park High School in 1962 and attended the University of Houston, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1979. A proud veteran, Jim was known for telling stories about his time in the U.S. Navy (1966-69) as a Signalman, where he toured Vietnam, Japan, Australia, and the South Pacific during the Vietnam War. After being discharged, Jim worked for Gulf Oil. Jim met Gloma Jean Burchfield for the first time at a friend’s wedding in 1969 but didn’t fall in love until after meeting for a second time on a blind date; they were married shortly after on October 20, 1972. Jim and Gloma built a life together in Houston and welcomed April Valois in 1976 and Amber Suzanne in 1978. Over the years, work at Gulf, Standard Oil, SOHIO, and British Petroleum took the Aultman's to Milburn, Georgia in 1979, back to Houston in 1981, and to Medina, Ohio in 1984, where Jim worked until retiring from BP Oil in 1996, and the family moved back to Texas and settled in Lufkin. Jim was active in the Lufkin Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1836, serving as Commander for two years. Jim attended Stephen F. Austin State University and received his teaching certificate, teaching Business in Huntington ISD for a few years. When Jim fully retired, he enjoyed spending time with family, collecting and fixing antique clocks and radios, riding a motorcycle for a time, and woodworking in his shop. Jim was a talented woodworker, and the family will continue to treasure the furniture, swings, and trinkets made by him through the years. Jim enjoyed Lufkin during the 30+ years that he and Gloma resided there, and they made many friends in the area. Despite Jim’s later health issues, he never lost his spirit or his humor, and his family will miss that eternally. Jim is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Gloma, daughter April and her husband Tobin Becker of Alpine, Texas, and daughter Amber and her sons Ethan James and Jackson David Ortega of Round Rock, Texas. Jim was “Pop” to Ethan and Jack, and his grandsons were his pride and joy. No service is planned, but donations can be made in Jim’s name to Hospice in the Pines.