James, John William Henry 1886-1978

JAMES, HAYS, ROBY, AUSBORN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/13/2011 at 09:48:40

The Grinnell Herald-Register; Aug. 10, 1978

JOHN JAMES RITES TODAY

John William Henry James, 91, of 1033 Pearl St., Grinnell, died at his home Monday afternoon. He had been in failing health the past few months.

Funeral services for Mr. James will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at the Smith Funeral Home east side facility, with the Rev. Warren James of What Cheer officiating. Organist will be Mrs. Leonard Pearce. Vocalist will be Donald Turner. Pallbearers will be Henry Alden, Virgil Doud, Clarence Earnhart, David Dale, Marion Palmer, and Clair Strand. Burial will be at the Little Mount Baptist Cemetery west of Montezuma.

The son of Arthur E. and Lucy Hays James, he was born Nov. 10, 1886, on the family farm west of Montezuma. He attended schools near the family farm home. On June 8, 1916, he was married to Velma Roby at her parents' home in Grinnell. The couple continued to live in Grinnell.

Mr. James had been employed at the Grinnell Glove Factory and was a self-employed handyman for many Grinnell families in recent years. He was a member of the Little Mount Baptist Church west of Montezuma for over 50 years.

Survivors include his wife, Velma; three sons, Leslie Melbourn James of Denver, Colo., Robert Allen James of San Diego, Calif., and Arthur Augustus James of Belvidere, Ill.; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Mrs. James (Lettie) Ausborn and two in infancy; and two brothers, Benjamin H. James and Irvan F. James.