JAMES ROBERT CALLAWAY, II - known as Jim to friends and family - passed away, Friday, April 16, 2021, in Dallas, Texas after a long battle with cancer. He will be remembered for his passion for aviation and boating, his love of music, his steadfast curiosity in geology and physics, his dedication to his family and friends, his public service and, of course, his great sense of humor. Jim was born in Springfield, Missouri, July 17, 1943 and grew up in Austin and San Antonio, Texas. He studied electrical engineering and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. He spent his professional life in and around the oil and gas industry living in Houston, Corpus Christi, and Dallas. As a teenager, Jim learned to fly gliders in Georgetown. He credited aviation for inspiring his studies and opening doors to new adventures and opportunities that built his family, career, and social community. Jim became an avid power and glider pilot. He earned multiple ratings and spent weekends and summers flying his airplanes with friends around Texas. Forever dedicated to soaring, he always strove to build and improve the sport that most impacted his youth. Jim contributed to the growth of the Soaring Society of America and the development of several clubs around the state. He most recently founded the Hamilton Soaring Club. Members have established a scholarship program in his honor, to assist young pilots with education and airtime. Music was an integral part of Jim's life. A guitarist and pianist, he continuously studied jazz technique and theory with various artists in the North Texas music community. A former board member of Sammons Center for the Arts, Jim founded the Dallas Jazz Piano Society and Keys for Kids scholarship program. He wanted to ensure underserved and at-risk youth had the opportunity to learn music. The program provides a keyboard and lessons to children of demonstrated need. Jim is survived by his loving and dedicated wife of 54 years, Beth Potter Callaway; his son Robert Charles Callaway (daughter-in-law Andrea Mayer Callaway and grandchildren Kate and James); and his daughter Kathryn Callaway Freymuller (son-in-law Robert Freymuller and grandchildren Barrett and Conrad). A Celebration of Life memorial event, honoring Jim Callaway, is planned for Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 6 p.m. at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, 6911 Lemmon Ave, Dallas, TX. The family asks guests to kindly RSVP via private email, text, or call. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Dallas Jazz Piano Society - Keys for Kids Scholarship Program 5128 Rain Forest Trail Plano, TX 75093 or the T. Boone Pickens Center at Faith Presbyterian Hospice 12477 Merit Dr. Dallas, TX 75251. Please leave the family condolences and share memories on this website.

Arrangements under the direction of:

Aria Cremation Service and Funeral Home

19310 Preston Road

Dallas, Texas 75252

(214) 306-6700