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James Lucas Obituary
James Ellison Lucas Jr., 87, of Jefferson, passed away on March 23, 2021 at Citizens Care and Rehab in Frederick.
Born on July 18, 1933 in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late James Ellison Lucas and Doris Lucas Lamb both of Savannah, GA. Jim was very involved in Boy Scouts in NY and NJ and earned his Eagle Scout Rank in January 1949, before his father moved the family back to Georgia. He loved to tell the Boy Scouts in Maryland that he earned 41 merit badges when earning his Eagle Badge. Jim had fond memories of Scout camping in the Adirondacks in both the winter and summer. He picked up a life-long love for woodworking after earning his scouting working merit badge.
When living in Savannah, Jim and two cousins Charlie Smith and Henry Guerry were best friends and went crabbing and boating on Tybee Island. They stayed in contact through the years as they went their separate ways, Charlie to Texas and Guerry to Missouri. Jim was the last of the three to die.
Jim graduated from Savannah High School in 1962, attended Armstrong College and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1956 with a BS in Chemistry. He was drafted into the Army upon graduation and stationed as a medic in the Panama Canal. Upon discharge, he served 4 years in the Army Reserves. He began studying for a Master's in Chemistry but decided research was not his interest.
He began working for International Minerals and moved to Atlanta. In Atlanta he attended Atlanta Law School and received his JD. He began working as a patent attorney before moving to Richmond, VA. Jim received the Master of Commerce from the University of Richmond. While in Richmond, Jim coached Little League for his son Jay. In 1979, Jim decided to take a job with the NIOS with the Federal Government. After the death of his first wife, he and new wife Brenda and children moved from Richmond to Frederick County, Maryland. When NIOS was broken up in 1983, Jim went with FDA Center for Medical Devices as an attorney, eventually, International Device Law. He retired in 2004.
When his son Christopher moved up from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts in 1999, Jim trained as an Assistant Scout Master and then took the training for Woodbadge. In 2004, he assumed the role of the District Chairman for the Appalachian Trail and served for 2 years. He took on numerous leadership roles within the district. He also served as the Scout Master for Troop #796. He was also the Merit Badge Counselor for the Citizenship in the World Merit Badge and worked with the boys for their Eagle projects. He was loved by the boys and was very dedicated.
Jim had love of sailing, learning to sail in Georgia and then continuing to have this passion throughout his life. He owned multiple sail boats with his family. He and Christopher loved to work on their boat and go out fishing.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Brenda Sue Sanderson Lucas of Jefferson; son, James E "Jay" Lucas III of Colorado, and son, Christopher James Lucas of Jefferson; granddaughter, Katie Gayle Spitz of New Jersey; grandsons, Halsey and Nash Lucas of Colorado; sister, June D. Runaldue of Georgia; brother, Lance Lucas of Georgia; sister-in-law, Frances A. Concklin (John) of Virginia; brothers-in-law, Clarence A. Sanderson (Lynn) and Ronald C. Sanderson (Wanda) of Virginia. He is also survived by his nieces, Jessica Kearney (Michael) of Georgia, Jodi Calver (Cliff) of Georgia, Belinda of Georgia, Jennifer Walker (Matt) of North Carolina; Kelly Concklin of Tennessee and nephews, Jason Rundaldue of Florida, Jene Rikcon of Georgia and Steve Sanderson (Leah) of New York.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Mary Elizabeth "Beth" Lucas; his stepfather, Robert Lamb; brother, Roger Lucas and brother-in-law, Jon Rundaldue.
The family will receive friends on April 24, 2021 from 1-3pm at Stauffer Funeral Homes, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Day Break Adult Day Services, www.daybreakadultdayservices.org or to Boy Scouts of American National Capital Area Council by following the link https://donations.scouting.org/#/council/082/appeal/630
Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com
Born on July 18, 1933 in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late James Ellison Lucas and Doris Lucas Lamb both of Savannah, GA. Jim was very involved in Boy Scouts in NY and NJ and earned his Eagle Scout Rank in January 1949, before his father moved the family back to Georgia. He loved to tell the Boy Scouts in Maryland that he earned 41 merit badges when earning his Eagle Badge. Jim had fond memories of Scout camping in the Adirondacks in both the winter and summer. He picked up a life-long love for woodworking after earning his scouting working merit badge.
When living in Savannah, Jim and two cousins Charlie Smith and Henry Guerry were best friends and went crabbing and boating on Tybee Island. They stayed in contact through the years as they went their separate ways, Charlie to Texas and Guerry to Missouri. Jim was the last of the three to die.
Jim graduated from Savannah High School in 1962, attended Armstrong College and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1956 with a BS in Chemistry. He was drafted into the Army upon graduation and stationed as a medic in the Panama Canal. Upon discharge, he served 4 years in the Army Reserves. He began studying for a Master's in Chemistry but decided research was not his interest.
He began working for International Minerals and moved to Atlanta. In Atlanta he attended Atlanta Law School and received his JD. He began working as a patent attorney before moving to Richmond, VA. Jim received the Master of Commerce from the University of Richmond. While in Richmond, Jim coached Little League for his son Jay. In 1979, Jim decided to take a job with the NIOS with the Federal Government. After the death of his first wife, he and new wife Brenda and children moved from Richmond to Frederick County, Maryland. When NIOS was broken up in 1983, Jim went with FDA Center for Medical Devices as an attorney, eventually, International Device Law. He retired in 2004.
When his son Christopher moved up from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts in 1999, Jim trained as an Assistant Scout Master and then took the training for Woodbadge. In 2004, he assumed the role of the District Chairman for the Appalachian Trail and served for 2 years. He took on numerous leadership roles within the district. He also served as the Scout Master for Troop #796. He was also the Merit Badge Counselor for the Citizenship in the World Merit Badge and worked with the boys for their Eagle projects. He was loved by the boys and was very dedicated.
Jim had love of sailing, learning to sail in Georgia and then continuing to have this passion throughout his life. He owned multiple sail boats with his family. He and Christopher loved to work on their boat and go out fishing.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Brenda Sue Sanderson Lucas of Jefferson; son, James E "Jay" Lucas III of Colorado, and son, Christopher James Lucas of Jefferson; granddaughter, Katie Gayle Spitz of New Jersey; grandsons, Halsey and Nash Lucas of Colorado; sister, June D. Runaldue of Georgia; brother, Lance Lucas of Georgia; sister-in-law, Frances A. Concklin (John) of Virginia; brothers-in-law, Clarence A. Sanderson (Lynn) and Ronald C. Sanderson (Wanda) of Virginia. He is also survived by his nieces, Jessica Kearney (Michael) of Georgia, Jodi Calver (Cliff) of Georgia, Belinda of Georgia, Jennifer Walker (Matt) of North Carolina; Kelly Concklin of Tennessee and nephews, Jason Rundaldue of Florida, Jene Rikcon of Georgia and Steve Sanderson (Leah) of New York.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Mary Elizabeth "Beth" Lucas; his stepfather, Robert Lamb; brother, Roger Lucas and brother-in-law, Jon Rundaldue.
The family will receive friends on April 24, 2021 from 1-3pm at Stauffer Funeral Homes, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Day Break Adult Day Services, www.daybreakadultdayservices.org or to Boy Scouts of American National Capital Area Council by following the link https://donations.scouting.org/#/council/082/appeal/630
Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Frederick News-Post from May 5 to May 6, 2021.
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