James Boone Willmott

James Boone Willmott, 85, was born in Pasadena, Calif., in March 1925, and passed away Friday, Dec. 24, 2010, at a local care center, with his daughter by his side. He was raised in Altadena, Calif., and attended local schools. In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was a proud Seabee until his honorable discharge in 1946. Jim married the love of his life, Helen Sinclair, on Dec. 4, 1948. They made their first home in Glendora, where they were blessed with a daughter and son. In 1962, the family moved to Arroyo Grande and established their beloved permanent home. Jim was employed by General Telephone, which later became Verizon, for almost 40 years, until he retired in 1988. In retirement, Jim began actively pursuing his life-long passion for hiking and backpacking, both locally, in the High Sierra Mountain Range, the Grand Canyon and where ever he traveled. He was 75 years young on his tenth and final summit of Mt. Whitney. Each Sunday, Jim could be found hiking the Valencia Peak Trail in Montana de Oro State Park. He had completed over 460 hikes in the Montana de Oro area by 2008. Jim never met a stranger. He was vitally interested in each new acquaintance, all of whom enriched his life with their own stories. He was a devoted husband and caring father, a super, hands-on "Gramps" and a proud great-grandpa. He leaves behind a huge legacy of pro-active love, respect, tolerance, intelligence and an unwavering faith in God. Jim was a member of the Sierra Club, The High Sierra Trail Crew, Shane''s Gang, the local Ham Radio Net and Grace Bible Church. Our family extends profound thanks to Stephen Hilty M.D. and his nurse, Dana, who kindly provided their medical expertise in the years following Jim''s stroke. In addition, we are immensely grateful for the caring staff of Gentiva Home Health and Hospice Partners of the Central Coast. To the RNs, LVNs and CNAs on Station Three at Cabrillo Care Center, we will never forget the compassionate care you provided during Jim''s brief stay. In addition to his loving wife of 62 years, Helen, Jim is survived by his daughter, Ginny Conrow (Mike) of Arroyo Grande; son, James Willmott (Janine) of Redding, Calif.; granddaughters Rebecca Bayles (Aaron) of Ardmore, Pa., and Laura Liskey (Patrick) of Fullerton, Calif; grandson, Alan Conrow (Meredith) of South Lyon, Mich.; and great-granddaughters Adeline Elizabeth and Evelyn Ruth Conrow of South Lyon He is further survived by his sister, Mary Munson (Morris) of San Jose, Calif.; sister-in-law, Barbara Robertson of Newport Beach, Calif.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Richard and Margaret Ontiveros of North Tacoma, Wash.; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, 2010, at Grace Bible Church, 100 Rodeo Dr. in Arroyo Grande. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice Partners of the Central Coast, 277 South St. Ste. R, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, or a favorite charity. Marshall-Spoo 489-5552 Grover Beach