Jim was born in 1945 and grew up on a grape farm in Avon, Ohio. As a child he helped his mother Anna and father Frank in all aspects of crop production and harvesting. This experience undoubtedly caused him to always dream of having his own farm.

After retiring from working as chief scientist of the Armed Forces Intelligence Center in 2006 and after doing research and teaching at Johns Hopkins University, he then planted his own large produce garden in Lexington. This garden produced on average between 1 ½ -2 1/2 tons of vegetables and fruit each year for the last 19 years. He took this produce to the Rockbridge Area Relief Association’s Neighborhood Grocery, doing all the planting, harvesting, and delivery for most of those years. Last year he gave a plot of his garden to a group of Master Gardeners who tended their part of the garden and helped Jim with his part as well. It was a perfect relationship, and the effort became known as the “Giving Garden,” which continues in 2026.

In addition to his interest in farming, he was a master furniture builder, always working in cherry wood and always using the Shaker furniture style to build his family much of their furniture. In addition to building dining room and kitchen tables and grandfather clocks both for his wife and for the families of his son and daughter, he also built each of his four grandsons legacy Shaker wall clocks and mantel clocks. All the furniture was meticulously built and often custom designed.

Jim was a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving four years active duty from 1970 to 1974 and 22 years reserve duty as an Air Intelligence officer, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1996. While on active duty, he served with the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat Air Force Base in Thailand during the Viet Nam War and later at the Pentagon.

Jim and his wife Kathy moved to Lexington 20 years ago and considered that decision one of the best that they have ever made. Jim joined several nonprofit organizations and eventually chaired some of them in addition to being very active in the work that they do. Some of those organizations include Habitat For Humanity, Rockbridge Area Relief Association, Boxerwood, and Master Gardeners. He was particularly proud to have helped build 37 Habitat homes. For the past 18 years he has also produced a daily report on international public health that was utilized by countless health professionals worldwide and even some interested Lexingtonians.

Jim is survived by Kathy, his wife and best friend of 58 years. His son John lives in Lexington, and his two sons Ben and Thomas attend Ole Miss University, and their mother Ann lives in Huntsville, Alabama. His daughter Jenny and her husband Dave live in Earlysville and have two sons, Charlie and Sam, who attend James Madison University. His much-loved dog, Buddy, continues to go to his garden to dig up and eat old cabbage plants and to look for Jim.

The funeral will be on July 21, and final arrangements include a Funeral Mass at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at 11 a.m., a graveside ceremony at Oak Grove Cemetery after Mass, followed by a celebration of life reception at noon at Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA).

Donations in his memory may be made to RARA and Boxerwood.