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James Fike Obituary
On Friday, January 28, 2005 at his resident in Alexandria, VA. He is the beloved husband of Judith A. Fike; loving father of Jennifer Stahl and James A. Fike; caring grandfather of Timothy Morgan, Alexis and Taylor Stahl. Friends may call at EVERLY-WHEATLEY FUNERAL HOME, 1500 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA on Tuesday, February 1, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. where services will be held on Wednesday, February at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Interment National Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to the Masonic Scholarship Fund or Community Hospice, 3720 Upton St. N.W., Washington, DC 20016.
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Memories and Condolences
for James Fike
Sponsored by Judi Fike.
Judi Fike
September 3, 2022
Jim´s birthday recently passed. I always commemorate his day with a post on FB. Fir some reason I visited this page tonight. I was tenderly touched to see several
Individuals have posted here. Thank you for your comments. Jim would be happy and probably surprised by the the remembrances.
Betsy Jenkins
January 25, 2022
Got an email from this site reminding me of this anniversary of his passing. I cant believe its 17 years. So many things have happened in that time. And still, while the river of life changes and flows, always past new scenery, we still remember places and people weve seen in the past. I think about Jim from time to time. And always hope hes resting in Gods peace. May his memory be eternal.
Elizabeth Kirk
November 19, 2016
My deepest sympathies to Jimmy's family. His wife's review of his and their life is touching and done with such love for him. I knew Jimmy as a teenager when he and his mother "E" lived on Monroe and Mount Vernon Avenues. I lived close to our high school, George Washington, on Mount Vernon Avenue. I lost touch with Jimmy during those years, but ran into him again when he moved back to Alexandria. He said he was a hairdresser, which I found surprising. He was a nice kid and I'm glad that he found happiness with the woman who wrote the beautiful tribute to him. He was indeed a lucky man and apparently so was she. I wish your family well and happiness in your futures. Take care.
Betsy Jenkins
September 14, 2016
Thanks for all your posts, Judith. I was friends with Jim and heard about his passing long after it happened. I couldn't find out what happened; nobody that I asked knew anything. Thanks for all your entries. It helped me to understand, a little bit, anyway. I felt so bad when I heard about it. You provided much needed closure. Thanks again.
Beth Hellms
February 14, 2010
To all of Jim's family,
I still think of Jim, too. I worked at CHO from 1988-2000 and returned in 2005. I have known him since 1988. At first, I must admit I was a little intimidated by him. We did,soon, become friends and he often made me laugh.
You will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. And I will always remember Jim.
May God bless you all.
Judith Fike
February 12, 2010
No one probably visits this page, but I do often. Five long years have passed and the loss of Jim still lingers.
Time does heal, the heart scars over, the Jim piece is still there but no longer raw. For some reason this five-year anniversary has been extremely hard on me…can’t put my finger on it….
I’ve never been able to watch the Part II and Part III of Pirates. I have the discs and have never opened the boxes; they still have the seal on them. Old friends have stopped calling; perhaps I was not receptive. In many cases they wanted me to comfort them over Jim’s loss, when in fact I needed their comfort. Death has an anger stage, not at anyone or anything, just in general. I was angry; waking up mad going to sleep mad…I tried not to be angry with friends and family, but at times I’m sure I was. I cannot apologize to every individual: I can ask that you try to understand the tumultuous loss I suffered.
I have never known such a deep and rewarding love as the love I shared with Jim. He was every breath that I took. I could never get enough of him…I was like a child jumping up and down with joy and impatience when I knew he was flying to Tampa or driving to Alexandria. The two hour drive to the farm was painful for me….it seemed like a forever drive to get to the farm to see Jim for a short weekend. Jim and I hated living part. Flying kept him busy and there was never a moment’s peace with the farm. Masonry helped to fill he time between our weekends together. Fred and Betty entertained me in Alexandria. But the best time was Jim time…that is what I miss….my Jim time!
A vacation to Tampa and the Keys. A week of Jim time…the best time in the world….sun, sand, friends, and a honeymoon all over. The times of our lives. I can still his hear his “Hootie Hootie” and O B Hive messages on the phone….he made my heart race…I hated to miss his calls, I always felt cheated, I wanted to breath in every minute with Jim...maybe somehow in some cosmic way there was a hint of the loss to come.
I have three messages on the phone that have degraded and I can barely hear them anymore…a “Hootie Hootie” a “Baby is Calling”, and an “O B Hive”…sweet Jesus he makes me smile still…my breath catches, my heart aches, the messages end until the next time I can bear to hear his voice.
I’ve never been able to send a Christmas Letter since Jim’s passing and I no longer send Christmas cards…signing them Judi without the Jim somehow seems insignificant.
I’ve changed. I can’t decide what I’ve changed to or if I’m better or worse for the change. I have taken Jim’s advice and dated…perhaps that is the one piece of advice I should have ignored.
I think Jim would be pleased of how I handled the disposal of the plane, farm, equipment, and the remodel of the house in Del Ray. I miss having his logic as I’ve had to make these big decisions.
I’ve made new friends. I speak of Jim and I don’t think they understand the extent of our love and my loss. Old friends never speak of Jim; I think they feel it is best to ignore my loss. They are not being unkind it has been five years; much has changed, much has happened. Friends and family have passed…it is the chute life pushes us through. No matter how much it pushes me, and I think I’ve done remarkably well; it can never push from me the love we shared. We argued always about the “I love you the most”. Ha! Not until I was cleaning the farm for sale did I get it…yes Jim you loved me the most…thank you. It was not a contest, rather a statement of fact for you. Thank you, thank you, and thank you.
Stephen Flatt
February 16, 2005
Jim will remain with us in spirit which is fitting as his was always a free spirit already. I consider myself lucky to have been able to get to know Jim and am thankful that he and Judi found each other again. Rest in peace Jim - we'll all certainly miss you!
judi fike
February 11, 2005
The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge
OF ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF
THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
4115 NINE MILE ROAD
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23223-4926
804-222-3110, FAX 804-222-4253
January 31, 2005
Dear Brethren:
I regret to inform you of the January 28, 2005 death of Right Worshipful James Robert Fike, DDGM for the 7th Masonic District. Masonic Services will be conducted by Linn Banks Lodge No. 126 at 11: 00 A.M., at Everly-Wheatley Funeral Home, 1500 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, which is adjacent to the Alexandria Scottish Rite Temple, on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at 11:00 A.M.
All Master Masons are asked to meet with Right Worshipful George Bernard Dungan at the funeral home at 10:30 A.M. A religious service as such will not be held. Uligies will be offered by Mrs. Fike, Jim's daughter and the Grand Master. There will be a military burial, following the Funeral Service at National Memorial Park, 7400 Lee Highway, Falls Church, Virginia.
Brother Jim worked as Chief Pilot for Executive Air Service in Charlottesville and lived in Madison County. However, he grew up in Alexandria and had a house there also. He received hospice care at his Alexandria home and was there with his wife when he passed.
The family asked that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in Brother Jim's name to The Scholarship Fund, Grand Lodge of Virginia, AF&AM.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Alan W. Adkins
Grand Secretary
Grand Lodge of Virginia
Diane, Robbin, Anna Lou and Errol
February 10, 2005
It is with great sorrow that we join Judi and Jim's family in mourning his death. The laughter and joy he brought into our lives is immeasurable. He always greeted our office with bouquets of flowers or fruit from Florida. We remember with great fondness his overwhelming generosity taking us for lunch excursions. His gentle and always friendly ways left him never meeting a stranger. We will always treasure our memories, pictures and also those times when he stated "it would only take a few minutes", which turned into hours. We feel blessed to have had him in our lives.
With all our love and prayers.
Tim, Alexis, Taylor
February 10, 2005
We loved our Grandpap very much!
He always had fun stories to tell us.
We will miss him a lot!
February 9, 2005
Michelle Cook
February 7, 2005
While I was not fortunate to get to know Jim, I am indeed fortunate enough to know Judi, and through her, I was able to get a picture of her pirate and his personality.
Judi is a tough and impeccable judge of character, and the sheer depth of love she expressed for Jim was testament to the calibre of man he was. He touched her life, and she never hesitated to show it. I always smiled when I listened to her voicemail greetings, because she always ended them with, "Jim, if this is you, I love you with all my heart". Any person making such an impact on a woman like Judi - a woman who sees through the veils people put up so she can look into their hearts - that person is definitely someone special.
Jim was Judi's special someone, and though their marriage was shortened by his illness, they were able to share a lifetime of love. My sincere sympathies are with the families, and I am certain everyone who lost Jim will forever feel lucky to have known this great man.
judi fike
February 4, 2005
On behalf of me and Jim’s children, Jennifer and Jamie I want to welcome you and thank you for joining us today in this celebration of Jim’s life.
If you have taken a moment to look around you have probably observed a very diverse group of friends who have joined our families here today. As I share some moments with you about Jim and his life you will discover the many different facets of Jim…some of which you may not have know…in all, these are what made up the whole of Jim Fike.
Jim was born to Elizabeth B. and Everett H. Fike on August 26, 1938… Jim’s father passed away before Jim had a chance to know him and his mother “E” had the challenge of raising Jim as a single mother.
Jim grew up in the Del Ray section of Alexandria where we still maintain residence in his childhood home. Jim was quite a lively child and gave his mother more than one grey hair. Those of you from the old neighborhood are nodding your heads and recalling some quick brush with the law…Jim lived within a stones throw of his cousins Dorothy and Al and his cousins Fred and John Robert spent many summers living with Jim and E and quite often Jim would spend his summers in Pittsburgh with his Father’s family.
Jim attended George Washington High School and in his senior year he convinced his mom to allow him to join the Navy. So in November of 1955, when Jim was just 17, he enlisted and sailed off to see the world. Jim completed his high school education while he was serving in the Navy. He served aboard the USS Navasota at Yokosuka, Japan Jim always had a passion for flying and the Navy complimented that passion.
Jim served 4 years of Active Duty in a period just after the Korean War and then spent 2 years in the Navy Reserves.
Jim wound up in Canada and it was in Canada that Jim began a career as a hairdresser. See…I told you there are facets of Jim’s life that may surprise you! Jim was very talented in styling women’s hair and in fact won a World Championship for women’s hair styling…the winning head of hair was a very fancy up do reminiscent of Marie Antoinette complimented with Mikimoto pearls.
Jim eventually moved back to Alexandria where he continued to dress hair at the House of Vincent in Old Town. When Jim changed his career he made a very dramatic change and became an operating engineer. He went to work for J. W. Marriott and worked at Hogates Restaurant in Washington DC and then to Continental Baking Company…Wonder Bread
It was while Jim was working at Wonder Bread that he and I met 29 years ago. My dad also worked for Wonder Bread and had opened a door of opportunity for me to get a “real job” in their billing office, so in 1975 I started working at Wonder Bread. It wasn’t too long after that that the charming Jim Fike charmed me into a dinner date….well you know the end of the story, so let me share with you some of the middle chapters before I share the last and final chapter....
Jim has a son Jamie who enjoys rock climbing and travels rather frequently to avail himself of the sport. Most times he lives in Toronto and through the years Jim has flown to Canada to spend time with Jamie. Jamie just recently came to Virginia in order to visit with his dad during his illness.
Jim’s daughter Jennifer lives in Chicago with her 3 beautiful children….Timmy, Lexy, and Taylor. We spent Thanksgiving with Jen and the grandchildren the year I relocated to Alexandria…we had a wonderful time…the kids enjoyed seeing their Grandpap who they love dearly.
Jim was the finest pilot you would ever meet. He has flown the rich and famous, friends and family…he loved to fish…he has fished the waters of Belize and Georgetown Exhuma…and the pond at the farm….he was a cowboy…. he has rode em roped em farmed and herded em….he can mow and rake hay as easily as he can mix a gibson…he was as comfortable in jeans and boots as he was a tuxedo…. the farm was his ticket to warms sunsets and rum runners in the Keys…oh how we love the keys (Jim proposed to me in Key West and we had a concer create our one of a kind matching wedding bands) ….Jim joined the Conch Republic…we were going to retire to our own sunny beach and while away the hours fishing…swimming…and yes a little drinking now and then ….Jim and Jennifer spent many vacations in the keys….he spent time skiing with his children and white water rafting with Jamie….…he rode magic mountain with Jennifer in DisneyWorld year after year….he hosted a family reunion at the farm that the relatives are still clucking about…Jim was a great father to his children…they had fun together….they traveled and played together and for that they have beautiful memories….And as John Quinley has so eloquently said…Jim was a good Mason….
Now I’d like to share with you the most beautiful time that Jim and I and Jennifer, Jim and I spent together.
When Jim moved back to his childhood home last week to begin his journey through hospice I had no idea that it would be the most beautiful journey of our lives...He came home on Friday and Jennifer arrived that same night to spend the weekend ….the 3 of us spent countless hours reminiscing and sharing I love yous….Jennifer went home to Chicago on Sunday, but not before Jim had the time to share words of wisdom and love with us….. I’d like to share with you now the words of my beloved husband and a loving father and grandfather…
Jim explained to me and Jennifer that he never knew his dad and so in tough times he would go to the cemetery and talk with his dad to work through his problems…. He said that he always felt great comfort when he took the time to do that…
He smiled that crooked smile of his and told Jennifer and me that we wouldn’t have to spend time traveling to the cemetery…Many of you know that for Jim’s birthday in August I had a star registered in his name…James R. Fike, Pilot Extraordinaire…it is in the Virgo constellation. yes Jim is a Virgo….Jim was a little overcome with emotion as he told us that all we have to do is look skyward and he’d be looking down to help us through our struggles….he said if ever there is a cool breeze on your neck…you will know he was just passing through and was there to lend a hand
Jim shared with Jen and me that he was at peace and I felt comforted by that…I told him if he was a peace I could be as well…he said he had no remorse that he’d lived a good life and there was nothing he felt he hadn’t done…he had no regrets
Jim said that in his years of business that those he met either loved him or hated him there was no in between and it didn’t matter because his enemies always respected him….
We spent time laughing that Jim is really in fact Captain Jack Sparrow…if you have not seen Pirates of the Caribbean…you should…Jim was originally asked to play the part that Johnny Depp actually got….Jim had too many commitments…for those of you who have not enjoyed the movie I will share with you why the movie is about Jim aka Capt Jack Sparrow….Jack Sparrow a pirate sails into town on a rickety boat which has the misfortune to sink just as he reaches the dock…Jack Sparrow lightly jumps to the dock just as the boat goes under….and never gets his boots wet….Jack Sparrow has sailed the seven seas been to every port…robbed, pillaged, plundered …and always gets the girl in the end…I’m the girl…..we have watched the movie dozens of times and every time we do I would tell him that he is jack Sparrow…he in fact began to refer to himself as jack Sparrow…when the ambulance service brought Jim home from the hospital he had already charmed the crew…as he was being escorted into the house…with our assistance he walked instead of being carried….we started to mention that he was jack sparrow…the crew looked at him and said “I can see that” Jim smiled the million dollar smile…he was Captain Jack Sparrow….
Over the weekend there were a few visitors…Jim enjoyed seeing them but after they left he was exhausted and would sleep…as the week wore on, the visits continued to erode Jims strength and hospice explained that his time was to be spent with family only and asked that I dissuade any further visits from well meaning friends.
Several of Jim’s visitors had prayed with Jim and I asked him if he’d like to pray with me too…he said yes…tell the funny catholic story
Jim did have one last visitor …Miss Emily, Lee and Michelle Williams new baby girl. Lee and Michelle made the trip on Thursday and Jim roused himself to see Emily. He also officially handed over the left seat of the King Air to Lee.…and shortly after they left the house Jim knew he had tied up all loose ends so he began his pre flight check to the open arms of God. Jim began to experience tremendous pain and with heavy hearts we opened his hospice comfort pack so that we could keep him comfortable for the journey. Within a few hours Jim was resting comfortably and was pain free….Friday morning his nurse quietly told me that Jim would most likely pass away that afternoon… Although I’d been in the room with Jim most of the day I decided that I would sit with him for the final journey I put Pirates in the DVD, pulled my chair up
next to Jims’ bed…held his hand and encouraged him to take off for the final journey…I had a quick call from Lee and told hin briefly what was happening … Lee reminded me to tell Jim that it was time to Turn em and Burn em. I called Jim by his nickname “Show and Go” and told him he was cleared at take off to 5,000 feet and then he could choose his own altitude so to Turn em and Burn em…at 3:02 pm on Friday January 28th I watched my beloved husband take flight from this life
and now I’d like to read a passage that Jim had selected for his funeral…
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr., On 3 September 1941, Magee flew a high altitude (30,000 feet) test flight in a newer model of the Spitfire V. As he orbited and climbed upward, he was struck with the inspiration of a poem -- "To touch the face of God."
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941
Sandy Dofflemyer
February 4, 2005
I did not have the opportunity to spend a lot of time with Jim and Judi. However, it was obvious that he loved life and gave of himself freely. My thoughts are with Jim's family and wish them peace and comfort always.
Bill Brebaugh
February 4, 2005
My deepest sympathy for Judi and Jim's family. Jim was such an alive and happy person...and...so very much in love with his Judi. He will live in our hearts forever. God Bless.
judi fike
February 3, 2005
I wanted to share Jim's eulogy with those who love him...thank you for your remarks...Jim would love the outpouring of love...
On behalf of me and Jim’s children, Jennifer and Jamie I want to welcome you and thank you for joining us today in this celebration of Jim’s life.
If you have taken a moment to look around you have probably observed a very diverse group of friends who have joined our families here today. As I share some moments with you about Jim and his life you will discover the many different facets of Jim…some of which you may not have know…in all, these are what made up the whole of Jim Fike.
Jim was born to Elizabeth B. and Everett H. Fike on August 26, 1938… Jim’s father passed away before Jim had a chance to know him and his mother “E” had the challenge of raising Jim as a single mother.
Jim grew up in the Del Ray section of Alexandria where we still maintain residence in his childhood home. Jim was quite a lively child and gave his mother more than one grey hair. Those of you from the old neighborhood are nodding your heads and recalling some quick brush with the law…Jim lived within a stones throw of his cousins Dorothy and Al and his cousins Fred and John Robert spent many summers living with Jim and E and quite often Jim would spend his summers in Pittsburgh with his Father’s family.
Jim attended George Washington High School and in his senior year he convinced his mom to allow him to join the Navy. So in November of 1955, when Jim was just 17, he enlisted and sailed off to see the world. Jim completed his high school education while he was serving in the Navy. He served aboard the USS Navasota at Yokosuka, Japan Jim always had a passion for flying and the Navy complimented that passion.
Jim served 4 years of Active Duty in a period just after the Korean War and then spent 2 years in the Navy Reserves.
Jim wound up in Canada and it was in Canada that Jim began a career as a hairdresser. See…I told you there are facets of Jim’s life that may surprise you! Jim was very talented in styling women’s hair and in fact won a World Championship for women’s hair styling…the winning head of hair was a very fancy up do reminiscent of Marie Antoinette complimented with Mikimoto pearls.
Jim eventually moved back to Alexandria where he continued to dress hair at the House of Vincent in Old Town. When Jim changed his career he made a very dramatic change and became an operating engineer. He went to work for J. W. Marriott and worked at Hogates Restaurant in Washington DC and then to Continental Baking Company…Wonder Bread
It was while Jim was working at Wonder Bread that he and I met 29 years ago. My dad also worked for Wonder Bread and had opened a door of opportunity for me to get a “real job” in their billing office, so in 1975 I started working at Wonder Bread. It wasn’t too long after that that the charming Jim Fike charmed me into a dinner date….well you know the end of the story, so let me share with you some of the middle chapters before I share the last and final chapter....
Jim has a son Jamie who enjoys rock climbing and travels rather frequently to avail himself of the sport. Most times he lives in Toronto and through the years Jim has flown to Canada to spend time with Jamie. Jamie just recently came to Virginia in order to visit with his dad during his illness.
Jim’s daughter Jennifer lives in Chicago with her 3 beautiful children….Timmy, Lexy, and Taylor. We spent Thanksgiving with Jen and the grandchildren the year I relocated to Alexandria…we had a wonderful time…the kids enjoyed seeing their Grandpap who they love dearly.
Jim was the finest pilot you would ever meet. He has flown the rich and famous, friends and family…he loved to fish…he has fished the waters of Belize and Georgetown Exhuma…and the pond at the farm….he was a cowboy…. he has rode em roped em farmed and herded em….he can mow and rake hay as easily as he can mix a gibson…he was as comfortable in jeans and boots as he was a tuxedo…. the farm was his ticket to warms sunsets and rum runners in the Keys…oh how we love the keys (Jim proposed to me in Key West and we had a concer create our one of a kind matching wedding bands) ….Jim joined the Conch Republic…we were going to retire to our own sunny beach and while away the hours fishing…swimming…and yes a little drinking now and then ….Jim and Jennifer spent many vacations in the keys….he spent time skiing with his children and white water rafting with Jamie….…he rode magic mountain with Jennifer in Disneyworld year after year….he hosted a family reunion at the farm that the relatives are still clucking about…Jim was a great father to his children…they had fun together….they traveled and played together and for that they have beautiful memories….And as John Quinley has so eloquently said…Jim was a good Mason….
Now I’d like to share with you the most beautiful time that Jim and I and Jennifer, Jim and I spent together.
When Jim moved back to his childhood home last week to begin his journey through hospice I had no idea that it would be the most beautiful journey of our lives...He came home on Friday and Jennifer arrived that same night to spend the weekend ….the 3 of us spent countless hours reminiscing and sharing I love you's….Jennifer went home to Chicago on Sunday, but not before Jim had the time to share words of wisdom and love with us….. I’d like to share with you now the words of my beloved husband and a loving father and grandfather…
Jim explained to me and Jennifer that he never knew his dad and so in tough times he would go to the cemetery and talk with his dad to work through his problems…. He said that he always felt great comfort when he took the time to do that…
He smiled that crooked smile of his and told Jennifer and me that we wouldn’t have to spend time traveling to the cemetery…Many of you know that for Jim’s birthday in August I had a star registered in his name…James R. Fike, Pilot Extraordinaire…it is in the Virgo constellation. yes Jim is a Virgo….Jim was a little overcome with emotion as he told us that all we have to do is look skyward and he’d be looking down to help us through our struggles….he said if ever there is a cool breeze on your neck…you will know he was just passing through and was there to lend a hand
Jim shared with Jen and me that he was at peace and I felt comforted by that…I told him if he was a peace I could be as well…he said he had no remorse that he’d lived a good life and there was nothing he felt he hadn’t done…he had no regrets
Jim said that in his years of business that those he met either loved him or hated him there was no in between and it didn’t matter because his enemies always respected him….
We spent time laughing that Jim is really in fact Captain Jack Sparrow…if you have not seen Pirates of the Caribbean…you should…Jim was originally asked to play the part that Johnny Depp actually got….Jim had too many commitments…for those of you who have not enjoyed the movie I will share with you why the movie is about Jim aka Capt Jack Sparrow….Jack Sparrow a pirate sails into town on a rickety boat which has the misfortune to sink just as he reaches the dock…Jack Sparrow lightly jumps to the dock just as the boat goes under….and never gets his boots wet….Jack Sparrow has sailed the seven seas been to every port…robbed, pillaged, plundered …and always gets the girl in the end…I’m the girl…..we have watched the movie dozens of times and every time we do I would tell him that he is jack Sparrow…he in fact began to refer to himself as jack Sparrow…when the ambulance service brought Jim home from the hospital he had already charmed the crew…as he was being escorted into the house…with our assistance he walked instead of being carried….we started to mention that he was jack sparrow…the crew looked at him and said “I can see that” Jim smiled the million dollar smile…he was Captain Jack Sparrow….
Over the weekend there were a few visitors…Jim enjoyed seeing them but after they left he was exhausted and would sleep…as the week wore on, the visits continued to erode Jims strength and hospice explained that his time was to be spent with family only and asked that I dissuade any further visits from well meaning friends.
Several of Jim’s visitors had prayed with Jim and I asked him if he’d like to pray with me too…he said yes…tell the funny catholic story
Jim did have one last visitor …Miss Emily, Lee and Michelle Williams new baby girl. Lee and Michelle made the trip on Thursday and Jim roused himself to see Emily. He also officially handed over the left seat of the King Air to Lee.…and shortly after they left the house Jim knew he had tied up all loose ends so he began his pre flight check to the open arms of God. Jim began to experience tremendous pain and with heavy hearts we opened his hospice comfort pack so that we could keep him comfortable for the journey. Within a few hours Jim was resting comfortably and was pain free….Friday morning his nurse quietly told me that Jim would most likely pass away that afternoon… Although I’d been in the room with Jim most of the day I decided that I would sit with him for the final journey I put Pirates in the DVD, pulled my chair up
next to Jims’ bed…held his hand and encouraged him to take off for the final journey…I had a quick call from Lee and told him briefly what was happening … Lee reminded me to tell Jim that it was time to Turn em and Burn em. I called Jim by his nickname “Show and Go” and told him he was cleared at take off to 5,000 feet and then he could choose his own altitude so to Turn em and Burn em…at 3:02 pm on Friday January 28th I watched my beloved husband take flight from this life
and now I’d like to read a passage that Jim had selected for his funeral…
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr., On 3 September 1941, Magee flew a high altitude (30,000 feet) test flight in a newer model of the Spitfire V. As he orbited and climbed upward, he was struck with the inspiration of a poem -- "To touch the face of God."
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941
Bill Berry (secretary Linn Banks #126)
February 3, 2005
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jim's family. Jim was a great guy and was always willing to help out in any way possible especially at Linn Banks Masonic Lodge. We will truly miss him.
Kevin & Beth Hellms
February 2, 2005
Our deepest sympathies go to all of Jim's family and his many friends. We will miss Jim dearly. He was such a special person who would do anything for anyone and has done many thoughtful things for our family. CHO will not be the same without him and his loss will be felt by many for a long time. May God be with his family and bring them comfort in their time of sorrow.
Bruce Southall
February 1, 2005
My sympathy goes out to all of Jim’s family. As one of the Sun ‘n Fun group, we had many great times on our trips with Jim. We will all miss him. I learned so much while flying in the right seat with Jim. He taught me things about flying that they just don’t cover in the books. Everyone who knew Jim remembers many good times they had when he was around. May we all take comfort in these great memories.
Ronnie and Terri Lambrich
February 1, 2005
Deepest Sympathy to you and the family during this difficult time. Ronnie built the bridge to Jims house here in Madison after the flood. He will be greatly missed.
May god bless you all during this time.
Your Friends At Dominion Air Charter
February 1, 2005
Everyone at Dominion Air Charter at Louisa County Airport express our deepest sympathy to Jim's family and close friends. He was truly one of a kind and will be well missed.
Susan Veach
February 1, 2005
My condolences to Jim's family. Jim will be missed by all of us who flew with him here in Charlottesville. I will always remember how generous he was to bring a group of us "airport bums" to Sun n Fun on more than one occasion. He was a great pilot and a really good guy.
Susan Veach
CHO
Nelson & Edna McDaniel
January 31, 2005
We wish to express our deepest sympathy to all the family on the lost of Jim. We manage the farm
across from his property in Wolftown. May the peace which comes from memories of love shared comfort
you now and in the days ahead
Again, our deepest sympathy.
Nelson & Edna McDaniel
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