James R. Camicia

James R. Camicia ABINGDON, Va. James R. Camicia, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, at age 91. He was born on Jan. 29, 1918, in Welch, W.Va., to the late Antonio Camicia and Antonia Santini Camicia, who had immigrated to the United States in 1909 with little more than the clothes on their backs. He was educated in the Welch schools, and graduated from Welch High School in 1936. He then attended and graduated from Bowling Green Business University, now Western Kentucky State University, in 1940. His parents had enabled him and his brother, Nicholas, and sisters, Sally, Gilda, and Margaret to all attend college during the depression, a tribute to their hard work and dedication to education. After college, he began his career in the coal business with Island Creek Coal Company in Holden, W.Va., where he married Nancy K. Hodges of Okolona, Miss. He later moved to David, Ky., and then Prestonsburg, Ky., to work for Princess Elkhorn Coal Company, and rose to be the position of auditor there. He was later promoted to Secretary and Treasurer of the Princess Coals holding company in Huntington, W.Va. In 1967, Mr. Camicia went to work for Pittston Coal Company in Lebanon, Va., and rose to the level of Vice President of Administration of the coal group before retiring in 1973. After retiring, Mr. Camicia was very active as a volunteer at the Barter Theater, and was an usher and the "Door Greeter" there until his health would no longer allow him to do it. He was preceded in death by his son, James R. Camicia Jr. He is survived by his wife, Nancy K. Camicia; son, Robert M. Camicia of Hardy, Va.; and daughters, Kathryn H. Camicia of Washington, D.C., and Margaret Jego of Abingdon. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Robert M. Camicia Jr., Jennifer K. Camicia, Deborah E. Camicia, Lauren E. Briggerman, Abigail C. Briggerman, Brittany H. Jego and Evan J. Jego. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial contribution be sent to Barter Theatre Foundation, P.O. Box 867, Abingdon, VA 24210-0867, or the Arts Depot, P.O. Box 2513, Abingdon, VA 24212. The family will receive friends from 68 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13, at the Farris Funeral Service Main Street Chapel. Services will be held privately. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guestbook. Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, (276) 623-2700 is serving the family of James Camicia.