January 21, 2019
Jim Dorroh was born May 14, 1926 and left this world on January 18, 2019. He was 92 years old. Without question his greatest love was aviation. He was a Presbyterian and had a long history in the church as a family member. Mrs. Sallie Dorroh donated the land on which was built Dorroh Presbyterian Church of which his family stayed connected. Jim was a strong believer in Jesus Christ.
In addition to his many aviation endeavors Jim worked for the original Carribean airline of Miami, Florida called Mackey Airlines. The airline was formed by Colonel Joseph Mackey in 1946 and was eventually merged into Eastern Airlines in early 1967. Jim stayed with Eastern Airlines as an engineer until he retired. In his aviation career Jim became a licensed multi-engine, instrument rated commercial pilot; a licensed Airframe and Power-Plant Aircraft Mechanic and a Commercial Flight Engineer. Being in aviation for so many years, Jim worked on and flew a huge number of aircraft types and met many notable people in the aviation world.
Jim was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1378 based at Upper Cumberland Regional Airport in Sparta, where he loved sharing his aviation experiences and offering much advice to other aircraft enthusiasts.
In his last years if you went looking for Jim Dorroh you would find him at the Smithville Airport where he was based for many years. There Jim hangared several aircraft.
Another love that Jim had was Thornwell Home for Children in Clinton, South Carolina. Over the years Jim cared for this children’s home was very much where he regularly donated to its maintenance to help orphaned and abandoned children.
Jim was a well-known and well liked fellow. The more you knew Jim Dorroh the more you had to love and admire him. He will be greatly missed.
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. A memorial service will be announced at a later time.