James "Jim" Files

1927 - 2014

Files, James Jimage 86, of Orlando, who passed away Wednesday, May 28th, will be held Tuesday, June 10 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Historic Sanctuary, 263 King Street, Oviedo, FL 32765. Mr. Files served in the US Navy at the end of World War II. Immediately following honorable discharge, he entered the University of Illinois, where he received both a bachelors and law degree. After graduation in 1950, Mr. Files went to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a Special Agent. He had assignments in rural Kentucky and Chicago before meeting and marrying the former Marlene Rose Nowicki (deceased 2012). They spent their early married years in New York City and Chicago. During their first year of marriage, they took a road trip to New Orleans and fell in love with it. In 1963, Jim requested and was granted a transfer south. As it turned out, there was greater need for FBI agents in Mississippi during the 1960s than in New Orleans, so before the family settled in, he was transferred to Biloxi, Mississippi. 1970 brought another transfer, this time to Orlando, Florida. After another 10 years with the FBI, Mr. Files was ready to retire . . . to his second career as a practicing attorney, primarily in partnership with Evelyn Cloninger at their firm, Cloninger and Files, in Oviedo, Florida. Jim and Marlene spent many happy hours with the Classic MG Club of Orlando both in and out of his self-restored 1955 MG TF. Jim Files was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and friend. He was born on September 22, 1927, the fourth of seven children, and is survived by his sons John and Jason, and daughter Ashley Files Flory; daughter-in-law Debbie Files; grandchildren James Jacob, Jesse, and James Bernard Files; granddaughter Grace Audrian Flory; great grandchild Jamis; brother Richard Files, sisters Patricia Hunter and Edna Weber; sisters-in-law Lorraine Files, Edie Files, and Cheryl Shimala; and brother-in-law Arnold Weber. Arrangements by Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, 7520 Aloma Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32792 (407) 677-5091. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Nature Conservancy (natureconservancy.org).