James Warrington

James Russell "Jim" Warrington

June 24, 1945 - December 1, 2024

After a long and hard-fought battle with Prostate Cancer, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, and Parkinsonism, James Russell Warrington passed away at home in the arms of his wife, JoAnn, "his beloved" as he lovingly referred to her.

Jim was born June 24, 1945, to Shirley Myron Warrington and Lahoma Fern Shellenberger Warrington, in the old St. Mary's Hospital in downtown Grand Junction, Colorado. He attended Tope Elementary, Grand Junction Junior High School, and Grand Junction High School, graduating in 1963. During his high school years, he worked as an auto mechanic at White Automotive in Grand Junction, planning to make that his career.

In 1964, Jim and a friend joined the US Navy as part of the "buddy system." Following military entrance aptitude tests, he was trained as an electrician and served his country as an electrical repairman on the USS Carpenter during the Vietnam War. Following his honorable discharge in 1968, he completed an electrical apprenticeship which launched a 50+ year career as a Journeyman and Master Electrician. His apprenticeship sent him to Gunnison, Colorado, where he worked for Electrical Dynamics for eight years.

While in Gunnison, he met and fell in love with JoAnn Johnson and the couple married on September 5, 1970. In 1973, they welcomed their first daughter, Andrea Lyn, and in 1975 their second daughter, Sheryl Elane. The family of four moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1976, where Jim attended college, graduating in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in religious education. For the 11 years they lived in Tennessee, he worked as an electrician for the university and later headed up the maintenance department at the founding church. Jim and JoAnn welcomed their third daughter, Mary Anne, in 1979, and their son, Steven Matthew, in 1981.

In 1987, the family of six moved back to Colorado, settling in Glenwood Springs where Jim began a 20+ year career with G Electric. Following the closing of that business, he began his own one-man electrical business, as well as working part time for other contractors. He was known throughout the Roaring Fork Valley as "James the electrician," often sought out because of his excellent problem-solving skills and exceptional electrical acumen. He frequently used his electrical and handyman skills to help friends and family.

Jim was very active in his local church, Mountain View Church of Glenwood, serving in many capacities, including elder, trustee, building committee member, "resident electrician," teacher, sound technician, and vocalist.

In 2016, JoAnn retired from her position as Administrative Assistant at Mountain View Church, so the date was celebrated as Jim's official retirement as well. Following their retirement, Jim and JoAnn sold their Glenwood home and embarked on a six-month "friends and family tour," visiting all their siblings, children, and long-time friends in other states. They then settled in Grand Junction, where they felt very much at home. For the past seven years Jim especially benefited from the services of the Grand Junction VA Medical Center, where they went above and beyond for his care.

Jim enjoyed hunting and fishing, mostly because of his love of nature. He recently stated that the Grand Mesa was one of his favorite places, going back to his youth. Jim restored his first motorcycle as a teen and continued his passion for riding later in life, exploring the beauty of Colorado on his motorcycle. He was affectionately known among family and friends as a man who also loved his ice cream. For many years he and JoAnn spent time every January in Sarasota, Florida, complements of his boss. Jim had a beautiful tenor voice and a great love of singing, beginning in high school and continuing throughout his life. Losing the ability to sing due to medical complications was something he grieved more than the loss of any other ability. However, the most important and precious part of Jim's life was undoubtedly his family. He found unbelievable joy in time spent with them or talking with them and hearing about their lives. He loved them all with his whole heart and was an amazing son and brother (Jimmy), husband (Punkin), father (Papa), grandfather (Grampa), and friend (Jim, Jimmy, James, and JR).

Jim is survived by his wife of 54 years, JoAnn; his children, Andrea Griffin (Willie Aube), Sheryl Warrington (Rain), Mary Langdon (Jairo Rivera), and Steven Warrington (Courtney); his grandchildren, James Griffin (Maka), Taryn Griffin (Daryl Sevilla), Ivy Langdon, Silas Langdon, Kailer Warrington, Carter Warrington, and Daya Milecar; his sister, Judy Ingelhart (Fred); his sisters-in-laws and brothers-in-law, Janice Crow (Harry Averill), Jeanie Stout (Leon), Donna Neumann (Rex), Floyd Johnson (Gail); and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Jim was greatly loved by them all.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in his memory to HopeWest in Grand Junction (hopewestco.org) or Disabled American Veterans (dav.org).

A memorial ceremony will be held in June 2025 at the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado in Grand Junction.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Browns Cremation and Funeral Service.