James Jefferson Caufield

James Jefferson Caufield, 89, of Carrie Court, Niskayuna, died Tuesday, January 6, at Ellis Hospital. He was the son of the late James Montgomery and Blanche Brown Caufield. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Gayle Omer Caufield; his three children, Robbie Paine of Schenectady, James Allen Caufield of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Mary Caufield Breeding of Lexington, Kentucky. His four granddaughters are Rachel Paine Caufield of DesMoines, Iowa, Tobey Paine of Lexington, Kentucky, Laura Taylor Breeding and Emily Allen Breeding, both of Lexington, Kentucky. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Caufield held bachelor's degrees in chemical engineering and electric engineering and a master's degree in engineering, all from the University of Louisville, Speed School. He joined GE in 1960 as a manufacturing research specialist in the major appliance division at Louisville. In 1964, he transferred to Schenectady as an operations analysis and systems development engineer for LST-G. Jim held several positions, including manufacturing administration manager of systems and planning and manager of materials and administration. A retired Navy captain, he completed 30 years of active and inactive duty with the Navy Reserve. In 1983, he was elected president of the Schenectady Council of the Navy League of the United States. His civic interests included serving on the school board and participating in the amateur theater productions, in Anchorage, Kentucky. Locally, he served on the original Proctors board in Schenectady and the Schenectady Historic District Commission. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Jones Funeral Home, 1503 Union St., (at McClellan St.) Schenectady. A calling hour will be from 10 a.m. to the time of the service on Saturday morning. Contributions can be made in Jim's memory to the charity of your choice. For directions and online condolences, please visit www.jonesfh.net.