James Francis Specht, retired chief of police in McMechen, West Virgina, died Thursday, May 15, 1997 in Lancaster General Hospital in Lancaster, Pennsylvania at the age of 62 following complications from a stroke. A resident of Lititz, Pennsylvania, he was born on September 28, 1934 in Wheeling, West Virginia, the son of the late John and Esther Kelly Specht. He was a graduate of Union High School, where he was an outstanding athlete and received several recognitions in football, basketball and baseball. Specht briefly served in the US Army as a military policeman, during which he met and married Carole Ann Johnson on September 12, 1958 in McMechen, West Virginia. He joined the McMechen Police Dept. on December 1, 1962 as a patrolman. In 1968 he was appointed chief of police and remained as chief until his retirement in 1981. Specht was a former member of St. James Catholic Church in McMechen, and the Knights of Columbus.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers (one of which was his twin). Surviving are his wife, Carole A. Specht; a son, Joseph P. Specht (Kerrie) of Ridge Springs, South Carolina; four daughters, Mrs. Max (Marcy A.) Massey of Dayton, Ohio; Mrs. Fred (Mary E.) Moran of Augusta, Georgia; Diane M. Specht of Lititz, Pennsylvania; and Mrs. Chris (Jamie L.) Stoudt of Lititz, Pennsylvania; a brother, Thomas E. (Bernadine) Specht of Brecksville, Ohio; a sister, Mrs. Thomas (Mary Lou) Moczek of Grapevine, Texas; eight grandchildren, Tiffany, Heather and Nathan Moran, Sara and Jared Massey, and Katie, Patricia and Amber Spect; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services at Altmeyer Funeral Home in McMechen, West Virginia. Funeral liturgy with Mass will be celebrated on Monday, May 19, with the Reverend John Valentine as celebrant, followed by internment in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.