James or Jay as he liked to be called, was born in Lake Mills, Wisconsin on July 23, 1925. He was the third of seven children of Edward and Nellie Johnston.
James wanted to sell things, from the time he was 12. His charismatic personality that he had let him do just that.
He sold everything, from encyclopedias and Hormel Hams, to life insurance, to office equipment with TAB Products, the company he remained with for the rest of his career, moving up the ranks from salesman, to sales manager.
James traveled to and lived in many different cities in the United States during his World War II service in the Army Air Force (AAF).
While living in New York after his military service James became an amateur boxer and won most of his bouts, including the prestigious Golden Gloves, which sit proudly among his many boxing trophies.
James returned to his home state of Wisconsin after his time in New York but relocated to Milwaukee where he became a taxi driver on the night shift..
While driving one night on a night shift James met his future wife. James and his wife Ivenelle were married. They raised two daughters, Cathy, and Nancy, who both went on to become Registered Nurses.
At mid-life, they took in and raised a granddaughter Colette, who had special needs due to a visual impairment. James looked upon her as a third daughter and she looked up to him as her father. They remained very close throughout his life.
James loved Shakespeare, and took classes on the subject well in to his later years. He enjoyed traveling with his class to all the local playhouses to see Shakespeare plays. James loved practicing the material in front of the family.
James greatly admired Abraham Lincoln and often quoted him. One of his favorite quotes "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
James was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Nellie; his sister, Violet (Dole); his brother, Edward; his 1st. wife Ivenelle, and his 2nd wife Joyce.
James is survived by his Daughter, Cathy Bell; his Daughter, Nancy Chidester; 1 granddaughter, 3 grandsons, 1 great great Granddaughter
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the church services to his final resting place. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
Time Table for Thursday, 30 October 14:1215 - Stage Riverside National Cemetery 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA., 92518 ( Staging area #8)
https://goo.gl/maps/9lQjy1230 - Mission Briefing
1300 - KSU to assigned Shelter for Flag Line, Funeral Service and Full Military Honors
R/C : Mike "Joker" CourtrightSoCal PGR - Ride Captain
mokynanapo@sbcglobal.net
714-321-3356
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
Please post your condolences for the family to this link:
https://www.patriotguard.org/showthread.php?396377 
