John A. James

John Arthur James, of Ocean Springs, MS, passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 in Gulfport, MS. Born August 6, 1929, in Johnstown, PA, he was the son of the late Eben and Nell Regittko James. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Johnstown. John was a 1948 graduate of Johnstown High School. Following graduation, he attended Valley Forge Military Academy and Carthage College of Illinois where he majored in Physical Education. During the Korean War, in 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in which he served for 20 years plus 1 day. 18 of those 20 years, he was stationed at Keesler AFB. Upon his military retirement, he was employed by Ingalls Shipbuilding for 25 years where he retired a second time. John lived a very active life and had an inquiring mind. Among many things, he swam the butterfly and played handball competitively Air Force-wide and locally. For several years, he held the John James Annual Handball Tournament in Ocean Springs and Mobile. He didn’t pass a fire tower that he didn’t climb (when it was permissible) with his four children climbing behind him just to see what there was to see. He and his wife travelled the United States and saw many sights. He read extensively and mastered the computer. He enjoyed conversations and debates of any subject and liked to provide life lessons to anyone willing to learn. He was predeceased by his parents; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Joseph and Beatrice Mobley; his sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Jack Reeves; and nephew, Ricky Mobley. John is survived by his wife of 61 years, Shirley Mobley James; his children: Barbara, Susan (Ronnie), Ruth E., and David; his granddaughters: Crystal Gale and Jessi Alexandria; his great-granddaughter, Anna Claire; his brother-in-law and his wife, Dick and Sylvia Mobley; his nephews and their families: Arthur, Bruce, and John Reeves; cousins: David and Eddie Lou Regittko and family, Lynn and Dorothy Carter, and Paul and Vicky Carter and family; and special friends: Renee and Jeb Burnsed, Charlie and Sally Mazzone, and Steve and Shelia Rusk. A private service with military honors will be held at Biloxi National Cemetery. Tributes and remembrances can be made in John’s name to the First Lutheran Church, 415 Vine Street, Johnstown, PA 15901 or to a charity of your choice. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.