James McGuire
October 23, 1925 — October 10, 2015
WILSON - James S. McGuire, 89, died Saturday, October 10, 2015.
Funeral, Friday, October 16 at 11 AM, Ascension Lutheran Church, followed by a time of visiting and sharing. Inurnment at a time for and at the convenience of the family.
He was born October 23, 1925, on a farm owned by his grandfather near Wirtz, Virginia. A son of Jack and Elsie Mae Powell McGuire, he died just 13 days short of this 90th birthday. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Garrett E. McGuire.
Graduating from high school in Roanoke, VA, he enlisted in the Navy in 1943. His basic training was conducted at the Naval Training Base in Sampson, NY, and then he was assigned to the Naval Frontier Base in Boston, MA, where he worked in supply. There was a brief time aboard the IX67, a three masted supply vessel. James proudly wore his World War II veteran ball cap right up to his final hospitalization.
Upon discharge, he returned to Roanoke and on a blind date met his future wife of 68 years, Emily Pearl Cronise. They were married in 1947 at Wheatland Lutheran Church, Fincastle, VA.
He graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Agtricultural Economics. His early career was in agricultural sales and through those years, they lived in Harrisonburg and Winchester, VA, Lexington, KY, Hershey, PA and Memphis, TN. During those years, James and Emily were able to travel extensively visiting Spain, Morocco, the Caribbean, Alaska and many other places providing a lifetime of memories. In 1980, he and his family settled in Wilson when James started a small business consulting firm. He retired in 1994 and spent many joyful hours carving wood, keeping up with old friends and enjoying the company of his family. A passionate woodcarver, he made many pieces prized by his descendants. He was a founding member of the Wilson Woodcarvers Club and won several ribbons in carving competitions. He was long-standing member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks and a member of Ascension Lutheran Church. He was a very generous man, providing donations to many organizations throughout his life.
Surviving is his wife of 68 years, Emily Cronise McGuire; sons, James S. McGuire, Jr. (Sue) of Wilson and Jeffry L. McGuire (Sue) of Hershey, PA; grandchildren, Andrea L. Mitchell (Cameron) of Hershey, PA, Sarah M. Nuss (Jared) of Williamsburg,VA, Adam S. McGuire (Kimberly) of Charlotte, James S. McGuire, III of Wilson and Ashley S. McGuire of Hershey, PA; great-grandhildren, Ella Pearl Michell of Hershey, PA, Owen Jeffry McGuire of Charlotte, Maggie Bennett Nuss of Williamsburg, VA, Claire Elizabeth Nuss of Williamsburg, VA, and Eli Harlan McGuire of Charlotte.
Memorials are suggested to SECU Hospice House, PO Box 1376, Smithfield, NC 27577-1376, or Ascension Lutheran Church, 2512 Nash St, N, Wilson NC 27896-1393.
Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr, N, Wilson NC 27896-6927, telephone 237-7171, www.wilsonmemorialservice.com