James "Jim" Richard Upham

"Gentleman Jim" UPHAM, James R. (Jim) – Entered into rest on December 24, 2012, at the VA Hospital with his family at his bedside. Jim was born to Hedley and Myrtle on February 9, 1923 in Mead, WA. He attended Mead High School, then WSU for two years playing football before entering the US Army, October 1942. Jim served in both the European Theater and the Pacific Theater in WWII. When he returned home, he joined the family on the farm on Peone Prairie. He met Joyce and they married in 1947. Joyce preceded Jim in death after 57 years of marriage. Jim is survived by daughter, Linda (Duane) Bordwell and by son, Jeff (Nancy) Upham; grandchildren, Julie, Jared, Sarah, and Spencer; great-grandchildren, Isaac, Anastasia, Nathaniel, Elena, and Jameson; and by two nieces. Jim and Joyce left the farm and purchased the Valley Breeze Mobile Home Park. While living in the Valley, he was active in the Washington State Mobile Home Assoc., Valley Chamber of Commerce, Director of Civil Defense Spokane County, Search & Rescue, the schools’ PTAs, and Men’s Softball Assoc. After selling the park, they moved back to Peone Prairie and farmed with Jeff and Duane. Jim was also active in the VFW, Winter Knights Snowmobile Assoc., and the Walleye Club (fishing and hunting were a love). For years he raced thoroughbreds with his father and was active with the Junior and Senior Sheriffs’ Posses. Horses were a love of the family. Memorials may be sent to “Hospice of Spokane” or the Church. A Memorial Service will be Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 1:00 PM at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, 15319 E. 8th, Spokane Valley. Private interment Peone Prairie Cemetery.