James E. Bissett Jr.

James E. Bissett Jr. "Sonny", 80, of San Manteo, Florida died Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at Putnam Memorial Hospital.

Jimmy was born on July 8, 1926, in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. to Blanche Hebb and James E. Bissett.

He was the second child in a family of four. He graduated from Western High School in Washington, D.C. in 1943, having participated in the Cadet Corp and on the baseball team. He served in the oldest outfit in the 2nd Armored Division, the 66th Armored Regiment, known as the Polar Bears. "Jimmy" received a field commission and was very proud to be part of this hard-fighting division, first United States Tanks to enter Berlin in 1945. He played as fullback on their football team and liked the competition with other military groups. He chose to leave the service as Staff Sargent in 1946.

He married Geraldine Sue Will on Februray 27, 1947, in Annapolis, Maryland. He attended several schools and worked for his father in D.C. He had five children and four are living, Barbara Kaiser of Villages, Florida, James E. III of Fairfax, Virginia, Deborah L. Bissett of Fairfax, Virginia and Peter in Charlottesville, Virginia. His daughter, Susan Hayes died in 2005. He has five grandchildren, John and Frank Kaiser, Michelle Sloane, James E. Bissett IV and Laura Bissett. There are two great-grandchildren, Heather Kaiser and baby James Bissett. His three sisters are living, Beverly Kauffman of Boise, Idaho, Joan Buechel of Campbell, California and Jane Harter of Alexandria, Virginia.

A memorial service will be held in July of 2007.