James McClain

Surrounded by his family, James “Jim” E. McClain of Lancaster passed away on Feb. 16, 2016, at his home. He was 85. The cause of death was lung disease.
Born on Aug. 25, 1930, in Farrell, Penn., McClain moved in 1946 with his mother and brother to Los Angeles. After graduating from San Fernando High, McClain’s budding career as an auto mechanic was interrupted by two years in the Army, most of which was spent as an MP providing security at Yucca Flats for more than a dozen above-ground nuclear bomb tests.
A specialist in composite materials, McClain’s career included working for General Motors, Lockheed, the MAPO division of Disney, Lear Fan and Northrop. In the 1980s, he and his late wife, Betty, tried their hands at the food industry, operating B.J.’s Café on Carson City, Nevada's main street for three years.
McClain moved to the Antelope Valley from Carson City in 1984 to join Northrop where he worked on the B-2 while Betty opened the AV’s first Parent Teacher Aids store.
While a life-long fascination with flying led to McClain’s briefly holding a private pilot’s license, he was a passionate builder and collector of R/C aircraft and member of the local Tailwinds club.
Jim McClain is survived by his brother, Charles McClain of Tucson, Arizona; sons Tim McClain of San Diego (and his wife, Suzanne) and Ron McClain of Lancaster; daughters Jackie Zibble of Palmdale (and her husband Alan) and Kelly Furie of Santa Clarita; and seven grandchildren, Andrew, Ryan and Katie Zibble, Patrick and Cassidy McClain and Kyle and McKenzie Furie.
Services will be Saturday, April 23, 2 p.m. at First Christian Church of the Antelope Valley, 1702 East Avenue J with a reception to follow.