JAMES, NOAH

Husband, father, grandfather, soldier, educator and friend, Noah (Jim) James was born in North Carolina on April 20, 1922. He passed away in Everett, Washington on July 3, 2015. He was married to Joyce Ditz in Saginaw, Michigan on July 14, 1956. Joyce predeceased him on November 21, 1991. He is survived by son David C (wife Judy) and grandson Cooper of Everett, WA and son Eric A of Shoreline, WA. He is also survived by four of his nine siblings. Noah received his BS degree from Appalachian State University in 1950 and a MA degree from Colorado State University in 1954. He was the first in his family to attend and graduate college. He taught in Saginaw and retired as an elementary school principal (Lincoln and Jessie Loomis) in June 1982. He was a much loved caring, kind, and gentle soul and will be missed by all who knew him. Noah served in the U.S. Marine Corps from August 1940 to August 1946. He was a member of the famed first Marine Raider Battalion known as Edson’s Raiders and landed with that group in the British Solomon Islands in the Southwest Pacific on August 7, 1942 (The Battle of Guadalcanal). He was also with that unit in the New Georgia Islands in July 1943 for 8 months. In 1945, he was a member of the Sino American Cooperative Organization and served with them in China until the war ended in 1945. He remained in North China until April 1946. He received an honorable discharge in August 1946. He was a member of the Warren Avenue and Second Presbyterian churches. He served as church school superintendent and for nine years was a member of the session of Second Presbyterian Church. His remains will be taken to the Oakwood Memorial Mausoleum in Saginaw, MI where he will join his wife, Joyce. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Noah’s memory are asked to consider donations to either the American Cancer Society or General Scholarship Fund of the Saginaw Community Foundation, 1 Tuscola, Suite 100, Saginaw, MI 48607.