James Henry Dooley Jr.

James Henry Dooley, Jr., 89, of Salisbury, passed on Thursday, December 28, 2023, at the W.G. “Bill” Hefner VA Medical Center. He was born March 29, 1934 in Philadelphia, PA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James H. Dooley, daughter Kathleen Dooley Roscana, brother Raymond Dooley, sisters Barbara Fisher (Kenneth) and Alma Grace (Jack), and nephew Michael Grace.

After graduating North Catholic High School in 1952, Jim joined the Air Force. After Cadet training, he was stationed in Maine, then Texas, training as a navigator and Electronic Warfare Officer for B-52's. He then completed training in the Atlas Missile Program while stationed in Wyoming. From Wyoming he transferred to Goldsboro, NC. He trained on the B-66 before being stationed in Southeast Asia in 1969. Along with many other commendations, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1971. Jim returned to B-52's while stationed in Goldsboro, NC until he retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1973.

Jim received his Juris Doctor's degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1976, and served for 9 years as Assistant District Attorney for Rowan and Cabarrus Counties before being appointed to serve an interim term as District Court Judge after Judge Robert L. Warren retired in 1986.

He then joined the Law Firm of Corriher, Whitley, Busby, Dooley & Locklear, where he practiced law until he retired in 2001.

Jim attended Sacred Heart Church, where he was a member of the Family Life Commission and The Knights of Columbus. He was an avid golfer, and often played with Stan Grabowski. He also enjoyed hosting family vacations at the beach.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 69 years, Rita Dooley, sister in law Felicia Dooley, daughters Peggy Dooley-Isley (Frank) of Salisbury, Dr. Mary Anne Dooley (John) of Chapel Hill, Dr. Elizabeth Bell (Danny) of Chapel Hill, Alma Marshall of Salisbury, and son James Dooley (Jill) of Merritt Island, FL; grandchildren James Dooley (Megan) of Garner, Diana Caronia (Stephen) of New York, Anne Morrison of California, Lauren Edinger of Florida, Bryan Dooley of Winston-Salem, Cara Marshall of Winston-Salem, Jim Morrison of Durham, Natalie Edinger of Florida, Daniel Bell of Chapel Hill, Mary Morrison(Andrew) of Pennsylvania, and Maeve Bell of Raleigh; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 6:00- 7:30PM, on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at Summersett Funeral Home, Salisbury. A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 12 at 11:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 385 Lumen Christie Lane, Salisbury, with internment to follow at the VA national cemetery with military honors at 1 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Solutions for Independence, Winston-Salem, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Disabled American Veterans, or Catholic Relief Services.

The Dooley family wishes to thank the VA Medical Center Doctors and ICU nurses, for their care and support during our loved one's illness and death.

Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Dooley family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.