James Alexander Schwab was born September 22, 1941, to Julian and Beatrice Alexander Schwab, deceased, in Princeton, KY. He graduated high school from St. Joseph Preparatory School in Bardstown, KY. He was awarded a Navy ROTC scholarship to Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy. He married Marilyn Pinter and had two daughters, Cathy Schwab Weber and Joanne Thiel. He was designated a Naval Aviator specializing in Carrier Based Antisubmarine Warfare. He completed a career of 24 years of active duty, retiring as a Captain in the Navy. The highlight of his career was being the Commanding Officer of Training Squadron 23 in Kingsville, TX, where he met his current wife, Sarah Newlander Sanders, and her two daughters, Stephanie Sanders and Melissa Smith. After his retirement, he flew for several commercial airlines and was employed as a B-727 flight instructor with Federal Express in Memphis. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan, hunter, and fisherman.

Besides his wife and four daughters, he is survived by his sisters, Julia Vodicka, Mary Bea Walker, nephew John Roberts, grandchildren Rachel Weber, Marie Weber, Daniel Weber, Hayden Honeycutt, Dorothy Smith, and Lucy Smith.

The funeral mass will be at St. Brigid Catholic Church on August 4, 2022, at 9:45 a.m. (7801 Lowrance Road, Memphis, TN, 38125). In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a charity of your choice.