James Morris Hatcher III

James Morris Hatcher III

February 17, 1931 - October 29, 2025

James Morris Hatcher III (Pete) passed away at home on October 29th 2025. James was born on February 17, 1931 in Philadelphia PA. The son of James M. Hatcher Jr. and Helen Welfrey Hatcher. He grew up in Delaplane on Woodside Farm. James attended school in Upperville until the untimely passing of his mother in 1944. He would then attend Augusta Military Academy. Upon graduation at the academy he joined the U.S. Army. He would serve some of his time in Okinawa Japan. Upon the completion of his service he returned home to Woodside Farm in Delaplane. James picked up a nickname of Pete then worked with his Dad in the construction field. He would go on to work with companies moving heavy equipment up and down the east coast. Pete later worked for Fred Scott and Morgan Oil in Marshall. James in the Delaplane area became known as Pete and would be for the rest of his life. Pete would meet in the late 1960's and later marry Mabel Hinson. They would start a family with first a daughter Sharon V. Hatcher and later a son James M. Hatcher IV. Pete would start his career with C+P telephone company. Pete would work a lot of long days over the years with long commutes. The company would later become Verizon. He would retire from Verizon in 1990 after a 20 year career. At the age of 60 he would then go on work for a few local Auto dealerships, picking up cars that had been sold. Pete had a love for truck and tractor pulls that started in the Mid 1970's. In his later years Pete got to do his dream job by helping with the tractor pulls in Berryville. Pete well into his 90's somewhat had a second retirement. He would go grab a bite to eat at Hometown Diner and a stop at Royal King in Front Royal. Pete loved his cats and watching wrestling and Nascar on the weekends. Pete is preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 54 years Mabel H. Hatcher who passed away in 2024. Pete is survived by his two children Sharon V. Hatcher and James M. Hatcher IV and a grandson Tyler D. Hatcher. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Marshall Vol. Fire and Rescue Department.