James Wainwright

James Wainwright James "Jim" Wainwright passed away peacefully during his sleep surrounded by his family during the early morning hours of Thursday, November 13, 2014. Jim was born on September 14, 1943 in San Bernardino, California to Larry and Hazel Wainwright. His older brother Charles preceded him in death this past summer. He is survived by his younger brother Rick Wainwright. Jim graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1961. He obtained his Associates degree from San Bernardino Valley College in 1963 and his Bachelor's degree in Sociology from San Diego State University in 1965. As a youth, he was active in Boy's Scouts and Eagle Scouts as well as athletics. Jim was a varsity wrestler and football player in high school. He continued playing football in college and was once offered a tryout with the Los Angeles Rams. While attending SBHS he met and fell in love with Karen Lusk. Jim, who had never considered attending college before they met, followed Karen to SBVC and to SDSU becoming the first member of his family to attend and graduate from college. After graduating from SDSU, Jim and Karen were married on June 26, 1965 and then moved to San Leandro, California where Jim worked as a juvenile probation officer for Alameda County. In October 1966, Jim enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. While serving in Vietnam he was wounded on two occasions and twice awarded the Purple Heart. For his heroic service on October 14, 1967 as a Second Lieutenant Platoon Commander with Company F, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Third Marine Division, Jim was awarded the Bronze Star. This was followed with two Navy Commendation Medals as a First Lieutenant in 1968, again for courage, devotion and outstanding leadership under deadly enemy fire. After returning from Vietnam, Jim continued to serve in the USMC Reserves until 1980, leaving the Marine Corp as a Major. After his active duty military concluded, Jim returned to his work with juveniles as a probation officer in Alameda County. In 1972, he enrolled in the night-school program at Lincoln Law School. In December 1976, Jim was sworn in as an attorney and began his thirty-eight years in the legal field. By now, Jim and Karen had two boys and they relocated to Visalia, California in 1976. At that time Jim started his professional partnership with Russ McKinney and they continued to practice law together until the end. In 1983, Randi Saul-Olson joined the firm and the three of them maintained their Visalia law practice, across the street from the courthouse, for the next thirty-one years. Jim was actively involved in youth sports and coached both AYSO and club soccer and Little League baseball for years, even serving as the assistant varsity soccer coach at Redwood in the late 1980s. He was also devoted to public service through the West Visalia Kiwanis Club and the Central Valley Vietnam Veterans Club. Jim served many years on the executive board and running many fundraisers himself for the West Visalia Kiwanis Club. Jim is survived by his wife of 49 years, Karen; his two sons, James and Daniel Wainwright; his two daughter in laws, Sandy and Tiffany; six grandchildren, Mitchell, Jay, Nicholas, Ashley, Patrick and B.J.; his brother Rick Wainwright, his wife Cindy and their two children, Robert and Teresa; his brother in law Brad Lusk and his wife Sharon; his sister in law Janet (Lusk) Sugihara, her husband Glenn and their two daughters, Lauren and Jacquelyn; and his soon to be 102 year old mother in law, Louise Lusk. A "Celebration of Life" for Jim will take place for family and friends on Sunday, December 28, 2014 at 1:00pm at the Visalia Veterans Memorial Building (609 W. Center Ave., Visalia, CA 93291). In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the Central Valley Vietnam Veterans organization (P.O. Box 1871, Visalia CA 93279) or the West Visalia Kiwanis Club (P.O. Box 1046, Visalia CA 93279) in Jim's name.