James T. Cutcliff

James Thomas Cutcliff died on Sunday, August 10, 2008, at South Roanoke Nursing Home. He was born in Bessemer, Ala., on September 23, 1909. He was the son of John Joseph Hubert and Mary Elizabeth Miller Cutcliff. He was the last surviving sibling of the 13 children of that marriage. Born into a railroad family, he began work as a clerk typist for the Louisville & Nashville Railway in Anniston, Ala. In 1928, he joined the Norfolk and Western Railway Company rising to Assistant Vice President -International Commerce after more than 45 years of service. In 1940, he married Mildred Vines to whom he was wed for 58 years until her death in 1998. Together they lived in Birmingham, Ala.; Columbia, S.C.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Roanoke, Va.; New York City; Chicago, Ill., and finally in Norfolk, Va., until his retirement. Retiring in Sun City Center, Fla., Jimmy enjoyed his lifelong interest in gardening as well as fishing. It was there that he became an accomplished lawn bowler, coach and umpire. He was also a dedicated volunteer at the South Bay Hospital, where in 1998 he received the Volunteer of the Year award. He was an usher at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Jimmy returned to Roanoke in 1999 to become a full-time great grandpa. He delighted in telling stories of his youth and playing with his great-grandchildren and the family Delta Therapy dogs. He will be remembered by family and friends for the twinkle in his very blue eyes and a mischievous sense of humor. He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Ann Cutcliff Thomson and husband, Paul; grandchildren, Paul R. Thomson III and wife, Carol, and Pamela Thomson Lucas and husband, Matthew; as well as his greatgrandchildren, Kathryn Elizabeth, Andrew Dennis, Anna Rose Lucas and Sarah Elizabeth Thomson. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews including Charles Robert Cutcliff, of Marietta, Ga. A Funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. on Monday, August 18, 2008, at Our Lady Of Nazareth Catholic Church with the Rev. Msgr. Joseph Lehman officiating. Interment will be at Mansion Memorial Park, Ellenton, Fla. at a later date. The family will receive friends at Oakey's South Chapel on Brambleton Avenue on Sunday, August 17, 2008, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Therapets of the Roanoke Valley, Inc., P.O. Box 1465, Salem, Va. 24153. Arrangements by Oakey's South Chapel, 540-989-3131.