James Edward Stalker, 94, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on April 13, 2022. He passed away peacefully in his home in Wichita Falls.
A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, at Owens and Brumley Funeral home in Wichita Falls. Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, at Bonita Baptist Church, Nocona. Burial will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Crestview Memorial Park, Wichita Falls.
Jim was born on February 14, 1928 to Edward Arthur Stalker and Magdelene Laura Laney in Rochester, NY. After spending his childhood years in New York, Chicago, Pennsylvania, and Saint Louis, he graduated from Christian Brothers College High School in Saint Louis, MO. He then joined the Navy to serve in World War II. When the war ended, he was sent to Southern Methodist University on a GI bill where he studied for four years. While attending school, he met the love of his life, Donna Ann Pyle, and they married on September 2, 1949 and moved to Richardson, TX. During their 48 years of marriage, they enjoyed traveling around the world and boating on Lake Texoma with their three children, Nan, Jimmy, and Donna. Together they built a business, Home Metal Products Co in Plano, TX, and operated it for 23 years producing Kich-n-Vent hoods, Hasty Bake Grills, along with many other metal products. In 1970 they established Spanish Oak Ranch, northeast of Nocona, TX, and introduced Limousin cattle to the North Central Texas area. In 1974 they sold their business in Plano and moved to the ranch to continue their new venture of raising cattle.
Following Donna’s death in 1997, Jim met Dolores Cox and they married in 1999. Jim referred to Dolores as “his precious moment in time”. They were married for 6 years until Dolores passed away in 2005.
If asked, Jim would say his greatest career accomplishment was owning and operating Home Metals Products Company which was started in a garage with $1,000 capital and then grew to become the second largest manufacturer of range hood ventilators in the United States. He held various patents and received numerous awards during the time he owned the company.
Jim was very civic minded and enjoyed serving on various boards and organizations including First Bank and Trust of Richardson, Richardson Medical Center, Dallas North Town YMCA, Plano Chamber of Commerce (President), Dallas Founders Lions Club, Young Presidents Organization-Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter, Montague County Farm Bureau (Former President), and the Tales and Trails Museum of Nocona. He also co-founded Richardson Sports, INC.
Jim enjoyed hunting and fishing in many areas, including Colorado, New Mexico, South Texas, Alaska, Canada, and Mexico, just to name a few. He loved ranching, and it was not unusual to see him on his tractor even after he turned 90. Jim was a fantastic story teller and could recall details from childhood like they happened yesterday. You never needed a road map when you traveled with Jim - he never met a back road he didn’t know.
He was very loving and abundantly giving, and was very generous with his time, talents, and treasure. Jim will be remembered by his family and friends for his servant's heart, his compassionate nature, and his desire to impart wisdom.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Healing Hands Healthcare and Healing Hands Hospice for their exceptional care of our Daddy/Papo and for their love and support during this difficult time.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife Donna, his wife Dolores, his son Jimmy Jr., his parents, and his grandson-in-law Richard McCann.
He is survived by his daughter, Nanette Stalker Shipp and husband Stephen A. Shipp of Wichita Falls, step-daughter, Julie Matteson and husband Tony of Irvine, CA, granddaughter Stephanie Shipp McCann of Caddo Mills, granddaughter Kristin Shipp Gonzales and husband Bryan of Wichita Falls, grandson Stephen Blair Shipp and wife Tara of Nocona, grandson Robert F. Buchheit, Jr. and wife LeeAnn of Woodbridge, VA, grandson Douglas Maxwell Mallory and wife Jillisa of Dallas, grandson William Edward Mallory and wife Casandra of Flower Mound, his sister Joyce Rapp of Greenville, SC, his sister-in-law Vera Fay Haddock of Terrell, 15 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and daughter Donna Field and husband Noble of Richardson.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Nocona Rural Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 55, Nocona, TX 76255 or to Bonita Baptist Church 3396 FM 1815, Nocona, TX 76255.
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