Jimmy C. Hatch was born on post at Fort Hood, near Killeen, Texas, on November 12, 1955, to his parents, Herman and Ernestine Hatch. Jim's early years were spent moving regularly as a U.S. Army brat from Texas to Louisiana to Germany (twice), several other posts and, finally, to Montgomery, Alabama. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1973, where he was a member of the Air Force ROTC and volunteered to enlist during the latter years of the Vietnam War.

Jim met his future wife, Ann, through a mutual friend; she attended Jefferson Davis High School in the same town. They enjoyed dating for about a year and were married in June of 1974 -- both age 18 and eager to build a life together. Jim left for basic training that summer, and the couple moved to Warner Robins, Georgia, for his first assignment as an air operations specialist at Robins Air Force Base. He was a valued service member whose commanding officers decided the Air Force would be best served by sending him to Officer Candidate School. He was scheduled to leave for a tour in Germany and France but became gravely ill in 1976. He was medically retired from the Air Force and was proud to be a U.S. Air Force veteran.

The couple celebrated their son Robert's birth in the fall of 1977 and later returned to Montgomery to be near his family. Jim was actively involved in AYSO Soccer, served on the St. Bede Catholic Church finance committee and served as president of St. Bede Parish Council.

When Ann finished school at Auburn University at Montgomery, Jim and Robert joined her in Denton, Texas, where she worked at Texas Woman's University and later for the Dallas County Community College District. Jim loved all kinds of music, and he really found a home for that love in Denton with its many music venues, free concerts and music stores. Performers from the area knew him on site as a fan and as a knowledgeable music expert.

He also was involved with YMCA soccer and attended St. Mark Catholic Church. He loved to visit Barnes & Noble to shop for music, visit with friends and order a "Jim Special" in the cafe (a vanilla bean frappe, double-blended, with whipped cream in the bottom and on top of his favorite drink). And he became an even bigger fan of Auburn University where Robert went to college.

Jim and Ann attended every annual Veterans Day program on the Denton Square, and he proudly wore his Disabled Veterans of America jacket. He also was a lifetime member of Vietnam Veterans of America. During the last two years of his life, Jim battled Lewy Body Dementia. Although housebound, he never stopped fighting and trying to stay strong.

He is survived by his wife, Ann, and his son, Robert; his brother, Herman Hatch Jr. of Montgomery, Alabama; and his sister, Susan Thrailkill, of Fayetteville, North Carolina; plus two nieces and one nephew. One sister, Linda Hatch, and both parents preceded him in death.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mulkey-Bowles-Montgomery Funeral Home, 705 N. Locust St., Denton, Texas 76201. A funeral Mass will be offered on Friday, May 31, at 10 a.m. at St. Mark Catholic Church, 6500 Crawford St., Argyle, Texas 76226. Burial will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 3, at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery with military honors.