Festus Burrell James, 95, of Warrenton, passed away on Aug. 8, 2016.
He was born July 24, 1921, in Clarksburg, W.Va., the only child of the late Charles Burrell James and Viola Ethel Cox James.
Mr. James was a long-time resident of Fauquier County and also lived in Washington D.C., Annandale and Springfield.
He graduated from Washington Irving High School, in Clarksburg, in 1939 and worked for a couple of years at a lumber company before enlisting in the Navy during World War II. Assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory, he attended radio classes and taught for some months before being assigned to destroyer duty.
On discharge from the Navy, he worked as a civilian for the Navy Department as an electrical engineer at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington D.C., and was instrumental in developing the proximity fuse for bombs, including the nuclear bomb, while working for the Department of the Army. While working full-time, he found time to complete a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University on Feb 22, 1957. He retired after more than 30 years in the government.
After retirement, he moved to Midland and later to Warrenton. As a substitute teacher, he taught high school math and science in Fauquier County Public Schools. He also worked with the 4-H, teaching gun handling and hunter education. He was also a volunteer at the Warrenton Adult Day Healthcare Center for many years.
Mr. James was a past master of the Mt. Carmel Masonic Lodge 133, serving as Master of the Lodge for two years, a PHP of Warren Royal Arch Chapter 5 and a member of The Scottish Rite.
He was also a member of the Warrenton Presbyterian Church.
His wife of 42 years, June Garden Burroughs James, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his daughter, June Denise James Hurd and husband, Larrabee “Larry” Winfield Hurd of Charlotte, N.C.: his granddaughter, Courtney Leigh Hurd Johanson and Zachary George Johanson and great grandson Cam den George Johanson of Cary, N.C.; his granddaughter, Whitney Elizabeth Hurd of Charlotte, N.C., and longtime friend Molly Sue Snurr of Unionville.
A service to celebrate the life of Mr. James will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Warrenton Presbyterian Church. A masonic service is planned.
Prior to the service, inurnment will be at the Warrenton Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Warrenton Adult Day Healthcare Center, 430 East Shirley Ave., Warrenton, Va. 20186.
He was born July 24, 1921, in Clarksburg, W.Va., the only child of the late Charles Burrell James and Viola Ethel Cox James.
Mr. James was a long-time resident of Fauquier County and also lived in Washington D.C., Annandale and Springfield.
He graduated from Washington Irving High School, in Clarksburg, in 1939 and worked for a couple of years at a lumber company before enlisting in the Navy during World War II. Assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory, he attended radio classes and taught for some months before being assigned to destroyer duty.
On discharge from the Navy, he worked as a civilian for the Navy Department as an electrical engineer at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington D.C., and was instrumental in developing the proximity fuse for bombs, including the nuclear bomb, while working for the Department of the Army. While working full-time, he found time to complete a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University on Feb 22, 1957. He retired after more than 30 years in the government.
After retirement, he moved to Midland and later to Warrenton. As a substitute teacher, he taught high school math and science in Fauquier County Public Schools. He also worked with the 4-H, teaching gun handling and hunter education. He was also a volunteer at the Warrenton Adult Day Healthcare Center for many years.
Mr. James was a past master of the Mt. Carmel Masonic Lodge 133, serving as Master of the Lodge for two years, a PHP of Warren Royal Arch Chapter 5 and a member of The Scottish Rite.
He was also a member of the Warrenton Presbyterian Church.
His wife of 42 years, June Garden Burroughs James, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his daughter, June Denise James Hurd and husband, Larrabee “Larry” Winfield Hurd of Charlotte, N.C.: his granddaughter, Courtney Leigh Hurd Johanson and Zachary George Johanson and great grandson Cam den George Johanson of Cary, N.C.; his granddaughter, Whitney Elizabeth Hurd of Charlotte, N.C., and longtime friend Molly Sue Snurr of Unionville.
A service to celebrate the life of Mr. James will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Warrenton Presbyterian Church. A masonic service is planned.
Prior to the service, inurnment will be at the Warrenton Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Warrenton Adult Day Healthcare Center, 430 East Shirley Ave., Warrenton, Va. 20186.
Festus Burrell James, 95, of Warrenton, passed away on Aug. 8, 2016.
He was born July 24, 1921, in Clarksburg, W.Va., the only child of the late Charles Burrell James and Viola Ethel Cox James.
Mr. James was a long-time resident of Fauquier County and also lived in Washington D.C., Annandale and Springfield.
He graduated from Washington Irving High School, in Clarksburg, in 1939 and worked for a couple of years at a lumber company before enlisting in the Navy during World War II. Assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory, he attended radio classes and taught for some months before being assigned to destroyer duty.
On discharge from the Navy, he worked as a civilian for the Navy Department as an electrical engineer at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington D.C., and was instrumental in developing the proximity fuse for bombs, including the nuclear bomb, while working for the Department of the Army. While working full-time, he found time to complete a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University on Feb 22, 1957. He retired after more than 30 years in the government.
After retirement, he moved to Midland and later to Warrenton. As a substitute teacher, he taught high school math and science in Fauquier County Public Schools. He also worked with the 4-H, teaching gun handling and hunter education. He was also a volunteer at the Warrenton Adult Day Healthcare Center for many years.
Mr. James was a past master of the Mt. Carmel Masonic Lodge 133, serving as Master of the Lodge for two years, a PHP of Warren Royal Arch Chapter 5 and a member of The Scottish Rite.
He was also a member of the Warrenton Presbyterian Church.
His wife of 42 years, June Garden Burroughs James, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his daughter, June Denise James Hurd and husband, Larrabee “Larry” Winfield Hurd of Charlotte, N.C.: his granddaughter, Courtney Leigh Hurd Johanson and Zachary George Johanson and great grandson Cam den George Johanson of Cary, N.C.; his granddaughter, Whitney Elizabeth Hurd of Charlotte, N.C., and longtime friend Molly Sue Snurr of Unionville.
A service to celebrate the life of Mr. James will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Warrenton Presbyterian Church. A masonic service is planned.
Prior to the service, inurnment will be at the Warrenton Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Warrenton Adult Day Healthcare Center, 430 East Shirley Ave., Warrenton, Va. 20186.
He was born July 24, 1921, in Clarksburg, W.Va., the only child of the late Charles Burrell James and Viola Ethel Cox James.
Mr. James was a long-time resident of Fauquier County and also lived in Washington D.C., Annandale and Springfield.
He graduated from Washington Irving High School, in Clarksburg, in 1939 and worked for a couple of years at a lumber company before enlisting in the Navy during World War II. Assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory, he attended radio classes and taught for some months before being assigned to destroyer duty.
On discharge from the Navy, he worked as a civilian for the Navy Department as an electrical engineer at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington D.C., and was instrumental in developing the proximity fuse for bombs, including the nuclear bomb, while working for the Department of the Army. While working full-time, he found time to complete a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University on Feb 22, 1957. He retired after more than 30 years in the government.
After retirement, he moved to Midland and later to Warrenton. As a substitute teacher, he taught high school math and science in Fauquier County Public Schools. He also worked with the 4-H, teaching gun handling and hunter education. He was also a volunteer at the Warrenton Adult Day Healthcare Center for many years.
Mr. James was a past master of the Mt. Carmel Masonic Lodge 133, serving as Master of the Lodge for two years, a PHP of Warren Royal Arch Chapter 5 and a member of The Scottish Rite.
He was also a member of the Warrenton Presbyterian Church.
His wife of 42 years, June Garden Burroughs James, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his daughter, June Denise James Hurd and husband, Larrabee “Larry” Winfield Hurd of Charlotte, N.C.: his granddaughter, Courtney Leigh Hurd Johanson and Zachary George Johanson and great grandson Cam den George Johanson of Cary, N.C.; his granddaughter, Whitney Elizabeth Hurd of Charlotte, N.C., and longtime friend Molly Sue Snurr of Unionville.
A service to celebrate the life of Mr. James will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Warrenton Presbyterian Church. A masonic service is planned.
Prior to the service, inurnment will be at the Warrenton Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Warrenton Adult Day Healthcare Center, 430 East Shirley Ave., Warrenton, Va. 20186.
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