James Irving Wimsatt Ph.D.

1927 - 2023

James Irving Wimsatt, Ph.D., 96, of Scranton and Austin, Texas, died early Sunday morning at his home in Scranton with his family at his side. His wife of 32 years is Rebecca Beal, Ph.D.

Born in 1927 in Highland Park, Michigan, Dr. Wimsatt was the son of the late James Irving Wimsatt III and Rodman Hays Wimsatt. He was a graduate of the Grosse Pointe High School in Michigan and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan, a Master of Arts degree from Wayne State University and finally a Doctorate in English literature from Duke University. He was a proud member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. James was a member of the St. David's Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas, and attended services at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Scranton. He served honorably in the United States Navy during the period of 1945 to 1946.

A distinguished scholar of medieval literature, he authored numerous highly regarded books and essays on Geoffrey Chaucer, culminating in the highly praised Chaucer and His French Contemporaries (1993), which demonstrated, for the first time, how Middle French lyric poets influenced Chaucer's writing. In retirement, he completed Hopkins's Poetics of Speech Sound (2006) and studied the intersection of poetry, linguistics and rhyme, a project which consumed his interest until the end. Dr. Wimsatt's academic positions included: Temple professor of English Literature, the University of Texas at Austin (1977-92); professor, the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (1966-77); assistant professor, Texas Christian University (1964-66). During his long and storied professional life, he received the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship; ACLS Research Fellowship; Huntington Library Fellowship, among others.

Also surviving are a daughter, Alison Ross and her partner, Francois Guillot; sons, Andrew James Wimsatt; and David Joseph Wimsatt and his fiancée, Hannah Sierra Levien; sister-in-law, Ruth Wimsatt; nieces and nephews; countless students and colleagues.

He was also preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Hays Wimsatt.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Oct. 20, at 10 a.m. in St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 232 Wyoming Ave., Scranton, officiated and celebrated by the Rev. Rebecca Barnes, rector.

Friends and family may pay their respects from 9 a.m. until the time of the service.

Inurnment and military honors will take place in St. David's Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas.

To share a memory or to express your condolences to the family, please visit www.vanstonandjames.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial contributions be made to the Episcopal Relief and Development, P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058; or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to and are under the care and direction of the Vanston and James Funeral Home, Scranton.