James Spitz

1931 - 2025

James Spitz

May 15, 1931 - August 24, 2025

SPITZ, James Howard, age 94, of Daleville, Va., passed away on Sunday, August 24, 2025 to begin a new life with our Lord. Born in Rochester, N.Y. on May 15, 1931, he was the son of the late Joseph W. and Ellen J. (Yarker) Spitz; and brother to deceased siblings, Joseph F. Spitz, Gerald A. Spitz and Judith E. (Spitz) Nordberg.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Brunhilde (Hilde); son, James Albert of Bedford, Va.; daughter Susan Elaine (Spitz) Jamison of Roanoke, Va.; sister-in-law, Deanna Spitz of Keuka Lake in Upstate New York, and many caring nieces; nephews and friends. He grew up on a small farm bordering Keuka Lake; was a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio; and was a US Army veteran of the Korean Conflict serving between 1954-1956.

He worked for the US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment for 36 years, serving in New York State, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Indiana and Washington, D.C. A Congressional Fellow in 1983-84, he served the last six years of his career in the Office of the Secretary as a Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Since retirement in 1989 he gave many volunteer hours to the Smith Mountain Lake Association as president; to Resurrection Catholic Church in Moneta; to the Tri-County Lake Administrative Commission; to the Virginia Lakes and Watershed Association; the Upper Roanoke River Table; and several citizen committees established by the Commonwealth, such as developing regulations to implement erosion and sediment control legislation, establishing a no-sewage discharge zone regulations for Smith Mountain Lake, and drafting legislation to establish the Roanoke River Basin Commission for Virginia and North Carolina.

He served as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for the Scruggs Rescue Squad in Franklin County for many years, was a line officer and a member of the Board of Directors. He thoroughly enjoyed coordinating the annual June Chicken BBQ for the lake community and serving master of ceremonies with a bluegrass band. Jim was also a licensed auctioneer, and for many years, as a recreational activity, he assisted as floor manager at an auction company in Rocky Mount, Va.

Jim and Hilde moved to The Glebe (a retirement community in Botetourt Co.) in 2016. Shortly thereafter, Jim joined the Troutville Volunteer Fire Dept. and participated in establishing their first annual Golf Tournament as a fundraising event. He also was involved in getting an official Lion's Club established in Daleville in 2018 and received the Melvin Jones Award for his contribution. Jim often said serving others as a volunteer was more rewarding than his paid public service career.

A member of Trinity Ecumenical Parish in Moneta, Jim's Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 6 at 11 a.m. A Luncheon for all in attendance will follow the service. Common Ground Bluegrass Band will provide the music.

Interment of Jim's ashes in Trinity's Bruce Cooke Memorial Garden will take place at a later time.

Location:

Trinity Ecumenical Parish (Church is on Rt.122 approx. one mile south of Halesford Bridge)

40 Lakemount Drive, Moneta, VA 24121. Phone: 540-721-4330

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity Ecumenical Parish Memorial Fund.

Rader Funeral Home

630 Roanoke Rd, Daleville, VA 24083