WILLIAMSBURG - James Erwin Dula Jr., 70, a native of Williamsburg, died Friday, Dec. 14, 2001, at his home. He attended Magruder Elementary School located on Camp Peary in York County. He went to Matthew Whaley for his high school years and then to Chowan College in Murfreesboro, N.C. He then continued his studies at The College of William and Mary and then Pacific Western University in California. Dula had an interest in airplanes and at an early age started to fly at the old Williamsburg Airport on Waller Mill Road. In 1944 he attended the US Air Force basic training for the pilot cadet program. He enlisted in the Army in 1951 and was in the second class for helicopter pilots for the US Army. The 31 graduates of the class were assigned to the 13th Transportation Helicopter Company at Fort Sill, Okla. Dula was later sent to Korea where he was a helicopter transportation pilot during the Korean Conflict. He piloted an H-19C craft that was used for Medical Evacuees. He also delivered the press releases to the 8th Army Headquarters in Seoul, Korea announcing the signing of the armistice. Locally, from 1945-48 he was employed by Colonial Williamsburg in various positions including projectionist at the first old information center (now the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Museum), and a lifeguard and swimming instructor at the Williamsburg Inn.
He and Clairann Tate Dula had four children, James Erwin Dula III and wife, Kimberely, of Ardmore, Okla., George Venning Dula and wife, Caryn, and Stephanie Dula Holloway and husband, James, all of Dallas, Texas, and Elizabeth Dula Nickles and husband, Robert, of Houston, Texas. Also Mr. Dula and Leticia Lazano Dula had two children, James Edward Dula and Kristi Dula, both of Longview, Texas. He is also survived by his mother, Fay Lionel Parr of Williamsburg; brother, Joseph C. Dula and wife, Mary, of Molalla, Ore.; sister, Faye L. Dula Hobbs of Murphy, N.C.; stepmother, Evelyn Dula of James City County, Va.; 13 grandchildren; two uncles, Harold Bobbitt of Hampton and Bertram Parr of Palm Springs, Calif.; an aunt, Eileen Bobbitt of Ft. Myers, Fla. Many nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17, at the Bucktrout of Williamsburg Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Stephen Wiley and Dr. Wayne Price officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Williamsburg. The family will receive friends following the service at the Williamsburg Commons Clubhouse. Memorial donations may be made to the Hospice Support Care of Williamsburg, 312 Waller Mill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Bucktrout of Williamsburg is in charge of the arrangements. Published in Daily Press from December 16 to December 17, 2001