J.T. Wooldridge

James Thomas "J.T." Wooldridge of Jonesboro passed away peacefully from this earth on the morning of February 2nd at the age of 94. He was born October 15 th, 1931 in Luxora, Arkansas to the late Boyce and Gladys (Bynum) Wooldridge. J.T. attended a one-room schoolhouse in Mississippi County, Arkansas, until the family moved to Greene County, Arkansas in 1947 where he attended Oak Grove High School and graduated as Valedictorian of his 1950 class. James was drafted to the U.S. Army during the Korean war but did not serve in combat. Upon returning from service he enrolled at Arkansas State College, 1954-1956. On June 2nd, 1956 James and Myra Crosno of Gainesville, Arkansas were joined in, and committed to, a life-long marriage. The newlywed couple resided in Fayetteville, Arkansas where J.T. continued his studies at The University of Arkansas, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical  Engineering in 1958. J.T. began his career with NASA at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama in March of 1959 just prior to John F. Kennedy's famous "Before this decade is out..." speech. J.T.'s expertise helped make the president's vision a reality. His specialty was developing instrumentation, testing and measurement methodology for the Saturn V rocket engines that powered the Apollo moon missions. J.T. continued his career with NASA through the Sky Lab and Space Shuttle eras. Achieving the precision ignition required for the space shuttle's Solid Rocket Boosters (measured in nano-seconds) was what he considered the crowning achievement of his career. He retired from NASA in 1986 but was brought back into service through Wylie Labs of Huntsville to assist in correcting the booster rockets' stage-sealing issues that had led to the Challenger disaster.

The family lived in the Huntsville/Decatur, Alabama area from 1959 until 2002. Throughout this time, J.T. attended Austinville United Methodist Church and enjoyed the abundant fishing, hunting, camping, boating & skiing opportunities the area provided with his family, extended church-family & friends. In 2002 J.T. & Myra returned to their home area of Arkansas residing in the Sage Meadows community of Jonesboro. 

J.T. is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Myra; children: Karen Wooldridge Raney of Waukesha, Wisconsin, Connie Wooldridge of Brookland, Arkansas, and Clay (Lisa) Wooldridge of Magnolia, Texas; grandchildren: Elizabeth Wooldridge, Joseph Wooldridge, Gabrielle Wooldridge, and Seth Wooldridge, Deseree Haude Alexander and Erica Haude; eleven great grandchildren; sister, Donna Wooldridge Dillin of Jonesboro; sisters-in-law: Annette Wooldridge of Batesville and Charlotte Wooldridge of Batesville; brothers-in-law: Bill Beeler of Jonesboro and John May of Harrisburg; and many other beloved cousins, nieces & nephews, and close friends & neighbors. He was preceded in death by his parents, Boyce and Gladys Bynum Wooldridge, sisters, Bonnie Wooldridge, Eva Wooldridge Beeler, and Mattie Wooldridge May; brothers, Ed Wooldridge and Darrel Wooldridge; and brothers-in-law, Roy Crosno and George Dillin. 

The family will honor J.T.'s memory with a funeral service to be held at Heath Funeral Home on Saturday, February 7, 2026. A visitation will begin at 10:30 AM with the funeral commencing at 11:00 AM with Tim Wooldridge officiating. J.T. will be laid to rest at Greene County Memorial Gardens. Serving as pallbearers are Clay Wooldridge, Seth Wooldridge, Joseph Wooldridge, Derek George, Jeremy Wooldridge, Brian Wooldridge, and Kerry Wooldridge. We invite all who knew and loved J.T. to join us in remembering a man who lived life to the fullest, embraced the wonders of nature and science, and cherished his family above all. May he rest in peace.