James J. Gavin

1948 - 2023

James Joseph Gavin, 75, of Dallas, passed away Saturday morning, Aug. 5, 2023, with a smile on his lips and a song in his heart.

Born Aug. 3, 1948, in the Miners Mills section of Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late James G. and Regina M. Mattick Gavin.

Jim attended Sacred Heart High School, Plains Twp., James M. Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre, and was a graduate of Hunterdon Central High School, Flemington, N.J., Class of 1966.

Jim was a career U.S. Army soldier serving from 1967 to 1987. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving two tours of duty, and had the privilege of living in several different countries. He spent two years in Northern Thailand; one year in the Republic of China (Taiwan); 18 months in Misawa, Japan; three years in Okinawa; three years in Augsburg, Germany; with stops in the Philippines, South Korea, Guam and Australia. Jim was lastly stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland, where he worked as an intelligence analyst at the headquarters of the National Security Agency. (In God we trust, everyone else we monitor.)

He was most proud of his Paratrooper Jump Wings and Combat Infantry Badge. While serving he earned the Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; two Army Commendation Medals; The Vietnam Service Medal with six Bronze Stars; the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon; Meritorious Unit Citation; and several others. He started a second career in the postal service in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1988. Upon his retirement, he returned to reside in Dallas.

He was a life member of the Society of the 173 Airborne Brigade, the 82nd Airborne Division Association, the Plains American Legion, Joseph E. Conlon, Post 558, VFW Anthracite Post, Disabled American Veterans and the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association. His avocation and passion was teaching competitive volleyball to high school boys and girls, both at Dallas High School and the Greater Nanticoke Area High School.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Maureen "Molly" Williams and Kathleen Gavin.

Surviving are his precious wife and partner, Deborah Ann Gavin, with whom he loved to be traveling, "On the Road Again" playing golf, coaching and enjoying life to its fullest; son, James G. Gavin, Mechanicsburg; daughters, Jamie Albers and her husband Dan, Lincoln, Nebraska; and Chia Coleman and her husband, John, Honolulu, Hawaii; five grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; sister, Eileen Mullay and her husband, Carl, Pringle; brothers, William and his wife, Zanetta, Richmond, Ky.; David, Wilkes-Barre; Patrick and his wife, Tina, Wilkes-Barre; John and his wife, Donna, Maryland; and Mark and his wife, Joeann, Shavertown; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral will be held at 9:15 a.m. Monday from Corcoran Funeral Home Inc., 20 S. Main St., Plains Twp., with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Therese's Church, Pioneer Avenue, Shavertown, with the Rev. James Paisley, pastor, officiating. Interment with military honors accorded by the U.S. Army and the Plains American Legion Funeral Honors Detail will be held in St. Adalbert Cemetery, West Main Street, Glen Lyon.

Family and friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the local food pantries; or Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge, 974 Lockville Road, Dallas, PA 18612. To honor Jim, please send your grocery store coupons to the military.

For information or to leave Jim's family a message of condolence, visit www.corcoranfuneralhome.com.