James Robert Ainsworth

James Robert ("Jim") Ainsworth entered into the eternal presence of his Lord on Sunday, March 26, 2023, in Houston surrounded by his wife and children. His family deeply mourns his loss, but also celebrates the fullness of his life lived on earth and takes comfort in knowing he is at home with the Lord.
Jim was born June 3, 1949, in Malvern, Arkansas to Robert and Pansy Ainsworth and grew up alongside his brothers Richard and Thomas. A disciplined student and accomplished athlete, he graduated from Malvern High School. After his undergraduate work at the Air Force Academy, where he played both baseball and basketball, and at the University of Arkansas, he then received his masters in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. A consummate entrepreneur, Jim owned and operated a number of businesses, even including an antique furniture business early in his career, but his lifelong work was as a professional engineer where he spent nearly 40 years in the industry, eventually founding and running A&S Engineers, Inc for over 20 years.
Jim was devoted in every aspect of his life: a faithful follower of Jesus who lived his belief daily, the cornerstone of his family, a devoted neighbor and community advocate, a world traveler, and a skilled engineer. Jim and Ann are longtime members of First Presbyterian Church of Houston.
The primary hallmark of his life, and the way that he would most want to be remembered, was as a loving husband to Ann for 43 years, a father to his four children, and a grandfather to his nine grandchildren. There is nowhere he'd rather be than surrounded by his family, laughing, telling stories, and watching them play at their home of over 40 years in Houston or their beloved vacation home in Park City. Ann and Jim's marriage was devoted, fun, adventurous and selfless. Ann was the joy of Jim's heart, and their family was their crowning achievement. Jim was a steadfast and loyal presence in the lives of his children, coaching their youth teams, caring deeply for their friends, and leading countless family vacations. He taught his children how to be good citizens, parents, and spouses, encouraging them to find joy in all their pursuits and to love and serve others well, just as he did. Over the last decade, his greatest joy and adventure was being the beloved "Papa" to his nine grandchildren. He was always on the sideline of their sporting events, hiking with them in the summers, hosting sleepovers, attending school events and celebrating their accomplishments. He loved them deeply, knew them personally and has left a profound impact on their young lives. More often mentioned than anything else was that Jim Ainsworth loved his family and poured his life into caring for them and making the world a better place for them.
Jim's expansive legacy will continue to impact families across the Houston area for multiple generations. Some of his most profound influence was on the lives of his A&S colleagues and his neighborhood community. Jim was a rock for his colleagues, meeting any need that arose in their lives without hesitation. He knew each of them on a deeply personal level and felt a sincere responsibility for providing for them in any way he could. He took great pride in mentoring and encouraging young engineers throughout their careers. Within the Braeswood Place neighborhood he was a pillar in the community. He was actively involved in the homeowners association and served as president. He was a founding member of Stella Link Redevelopment Association in 1994, which led to the creation of Campus Park between Mark Twain Elementary and Pershing Middle Schools. That space is now home to Helen's Park, the Weekley Family YMCA, the McGovern Library, and sports fields and facilities that will be enjoyed by the community for years to come.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents Robert T. and Pansy O. Ainsworth of Malvern, Arkansas, and his brother Richard Neff (Carolyn) of Royal, Arkansas. He is survived by his wife, Ann, and children, Jeff Ainsworth (Blair), Becca Ainsworth Wilkinson (Chris), Kata Ainsworth Taggart (Drew), and Michael Ainsworth, grandchildren, Logan, Nora, and Penny Ainsworth, Jack, James, Reese, and Sam Wilkinson, and Hannah Rose and Olivia Taggart, and his brother Tommy Ainsworth (Charlotte) of Malvern, AR.
A celebration of Jim's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church in Houston with a reception to follow. Please feel comfortable to wear bright colors, as Jim would prefer this day to be one of celebration.
Please consider a donation in Jim's honor to Hope House Houston (HopeHouseHouston.org), a ministry that Jim and Ann cared deeply about in recent years.
The family is collecting memories and stories of Jim to be compiled at a later date. Please send anything you would like to share to memoriesofjimainsworth@gmail.com