James L. "Jim" James

James L. "Jim" James, 79, of Lake Park, died on Saturday, June 25, 2016 at the VA Hospital in Lake City, Florida following a lengthy illness. He was born on September 19, 1936 in Mascot, Tennessee. Jim graduated from high school in 1954 at the age of 17 and joined the Air National Guard. He then transferred to active duty and attended basic military training and aircraft mechanic schools at Lackland Air Base and Amarillo Air Base in Texas. He was assigned duty in Spokane, Washington and later served tours in Spain and the Philippine Islands. He was assigned the first of two tours in Vietnam in 1966 at Danang Air Base. During his second tour in 1968 at Bien Hoa Air Base he was wounded by shrapnel from an explosion and his right foot was severed. It was reattached and he was able to walk again. Jim received both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his time in Vietnam. He retired from the United States Air Force as a Technical Sergeant after 22 years of faithful and dedicated service to his country. Jim also retired from SAFT following 22 years of service there as well. Jim was an avid golfer and loved to be on the course as often as he could, and he was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife of 18 years, Minnie D. James of Lake Park; two sons, Todd James of Wildwood, Florida and Tommy James of Lake Park; a step-daughter, Connie Hightower of Lake City, Florida; a step-son, Robert Carver of Los Angeles, California; his granddaughters, Casey (Randy) Allen, and Kelly James of Destin, Florida; great-grandchildren, Zack Allen, Preston Allen, and Grant Allen all of Wildwood, Florida, and Brooke James, and Abrionna James both of Destin, Florida; a step-granddaughter, Toni (Robert) See of Madison, Florida; two step-grandsons, Brandyn (Tori) Dees of Monticello, Florida and T.J. Hightower of Lake City, Florida; step-great-grandchildren, Arianna Mazzella and Izabella See of Madison, Florida; a sister-in-law, Belinda Wampler of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter James and Ruth Roach James Wampler; his step-father, Roy Wampler, and his brother, Roy Michael Wampler.
A memorial service for James L. "Jim" James will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 30, 2016 in the chapel of the McLane Lakewood Funeral Home with Rev. Zack Corbett, and Mr. Del Nary officiating. Entombment will follow in the McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Parkinson's Foundation at www.parkinson.org. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. McLane Lakewood


Funeral Home:
McLane Lakewood Funeral Home
3119 West Marion Avenue
Lake Park, GA
US 31636