James B. "Jim" Wiley Jr.

1932 - 2024

With a mixture of sadness in our hearts and the joy of knowing he is in a better place, the Wiley children announce the passing of their father, James Boyd (Jim) Wiley, Jr. on November 23, 2024. Jim was born on April 15, 1932 in Amity Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, the only son of Boyd and Hazel (Weimer) Wiley. Jim grew up on the family farm, milking cows, driving tractors, and antagonizing his four sisters. He attended Trinity High School in Washington, Pennsylvania, where he formed many lifelong friendships. From 1953 to 1954, Jim honorably served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Upon his return to civilian life, he married Mary Belle (Turner) Wiley and began a family. Due to a back injury suffered in Korea, he was no longer able to work on the family farm and used his GI Bill benefits to attend and graduate from Washington and Jefferson College.

From 1959 to 1983, Jim was employed by the Chesapeake and Potomac (C&P) Telephone Company, most of those years working and living in Charleston, West Virginia, where he and Mary Belle raised their four children. Jim and Mary Belle were charter members of Oakhurst Presbyterian Church, where Jim served in various roles, including deacon. They then moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, where Jim finished his career with Bell Atlantic, retiring in 1987. Jim and Mary Belle then moved to Lakeland, Florida, to be closer to their aging parents and other family members.

Following Mary Belle's passing in 1994, Jim met and married Sally (Lehman) Dietrich. Jim and Sally relocated to Blairsville, Georgia in 2001, where they built a house in which to spend their golden years. They joined the First United Methodist Church of Union County, where they were actively involved in the church's senior activities program for many years. In June of 2024, Jim and Sally relocated to Sun City Center, Florida, where Jim passed as he had always wished: peacefully, at home, in his easy chair watching TV.

Jim was an avid golfer, gardener, woodworker, card player, and Pittsburgh Steelers fan. His ornery sense of humor and the twinkle in his eye as he delivered a zinger, or passed you the queen of spades during a Hearts game, will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

Jim was predeceased by his parents; his first wife Mary Belle; his four sisters, Pat (Miller), Clara (Clayton), Sue (Turnbull), and Carolyn; and stepsons Ralph and Dan Dietrich. He is survived by his children, Michael (Terry) of St. Albans, WV; Beth Graves (Will) of Lake Wales, FL; David (Bonnie) of Charleston, WV; and Chris (JoAnn) of Jacksonville, FL; his wife Sally; his stepdaughter/caregiver Karen (Dietrich) Rice and her siblings Tom, David, and Paula (Schultheis) and their families; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. As per Jim's wishes, there will be no funeral service. A celebration of his life will be announced at a later date.