James J. "Jim" Kail

James J. "Jim" Kail, 81, died on March 2, 2025 at Atlantic Shores, surrounded by family. He was born July 10, 1943 in Huntington, West Virginia, to the late Ira Joseph "Joe" Kail and Nancy Ferris Kail.
Jim was the oldest of two sons growing up in Virginia and New York. He enrolled at Virginia Polytechnic and State University as an avid cadet and Biology student, becoming 2nd in Command of L Company by his senior year and embodying the motto "That I May Serve". Although he started out playing football for the Hokies, he ended his sports career as a cheerleader on a coed squad, claiming the view from below was much better. After graduation, Jim received his commission in the Army and then he was accepted at MCV, of which he graduated in 1969 with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.
During his time at MCV, he met and fell head-over-heels in love with Joan Cecile Graham, a beautiful brown-eyed Physical Therapy student. Joan couldn't keep her vegetables straight, and dubbed him "Larry Lettuce" until she figured out the Kale/Kail connection. They married in Fort Myer in 1966 and spent 58 devoted years together, raising and launching 3 kids in the process.
Following dental school, Jim got a prestigious internship at Beaumont General Hospital at Fort Bliss, Texas, then got his commission in the Army as a Captain, along with an enviable post in Bad Hersfeld, Germany, where he and Joan spent 3 blissful years living in the German community with their first two children and traveling Europe whenever they could. When he wasn't working as head of the Post dental clinic, he could be found filching beer steins and coasters from various establishments.
Their next posting was to Fort Eustis in Newport News, Virginia, where he was honorably discharged from the army after 7 years of service and joined a private dental practice in Portsmouth. At Adams, Taylor, Bisese, Kail & Cox, he grew into his own as the universally acknowledged "gentle dentist" and resident prankster. Many were the times he placed a hypodermic needle in the ceiling, prior to lowering a horrified patient's chair and vowing – "I won't miss next time!"
He was a past Mason and Shriner, although his dream of driving a little car in parades never materialized. Probably best since we might never have pried him out of one once he was in. Jim was a keen bird hunter and spent many happy hunting trips accompanied by his faithful hunting dog, Cricket. In later years, he raised pheasants and kept the local birds swimming in birdseed to make up for his earlier transgressions. Eventually, they made him an honorary bird. On the other hand, fish never had to worry as Jim was always the one person in any fishing trip to come home empty-handed. The day his son landed a marlin, a string of nautical swear words could be heard across the Atlantic.
He reluctantly retired at 70, leaving a long legacy of grateful patients and wary prank victims. Jim and Joan moved to Atlantic Shores in 2013, diving into a multitude of activities such as gourmet cooking, chairing the Residents Council, and racking up the frequent flyer miles.
Jim was predeceased by his parents, and his beloved dog Cricket.
Jim is survived by his adoring wife, Joan Graham Kail, his children, Kim Armentrout (Darrin), Jeff Kail, and Kristin Stowe (David); grandchildren Matt, Greg, and Elise Armentrout, Noah Kail, Sara and Kaitlyn Stowe; and brother Bo Kail (Liz); niece Nancy Freerksen (Brian) and nephews Joe (Leana), and John (Jaclyn) Kail.
We are forever grateful to have had such a wonderful man in our lives; one who was loving, resolute, playful, deliberate, mischievous, charming a fabulous life partner for our mother; a co-conspirator and a firm guiding hand for us kids. He felt blessed by his family, friends, colleagues, and patients, and would want them to know how much they uplifted his life.
The memorial service with military honors will be held at Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach at 10 a.m. March 15. A private scattering of ashes will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim's name are suggested to the Chapel Pantry at the Eastern Shore Chapel or the Red Cross Disaster Relief.