James Oglethorpe

OGLETHORPE, James Ray, 90, of Richmond, Va., passed away on December 13, 2009. Jim was a direct descendant of the Oglethorpe family that were among the first settlers in Tennessee. When his family moved to Cumberland County, Virginia in 1936, Jim and his brothers built a log home that still stands today. In 1942 he married former Marie Anderson and also entered military service. Based on his training and background in auto mechanics, he was selected to serve in Army Ordinance-Engineering. After the war, he returned to Virginia and managed the Windemere Estate on Cary Street Road in Richmond for many years. When Chippenham Hospital was built, Jim joined the Electronic Engineering Division of Hospital Corporation of America. At Chippenham Hospital he oversaw communication, television and medical electronics repair until he retired in 1990. He and his wife, Marie, have been active members of Parham Road Baptist Church for the last 20 years and lived in Short Pump, Va. until their health began to fail. Uncle Jimmy was a role model for many nieces and nephews in Tennessee and Virginia, and he touched many people with the honesty, compassion and work ethic that were the foundation of his life. He is survived by Marie, his wife of 67 years. Visitation will be held at Clarke Funeral Home in Kenbridge, Va. at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, with funeral services to follow at 2 p.m. Interment at Kenbridge Cemetery immediately following. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to Veterans or Alzheimer's charities.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.