Phillip W. James
Phillip W. James
Phillip W. James, 68, of Fremont, and formerly of Oskaloosa, died Monday, January 30, 2012, at the University of Iowa Hospital in
Iowa City. He was born August 3, 1943 in Oskaloosa, the son of Leo and Rita Smith James. He graduated from the Bussey High School in Bussey, Iowa with the class of 1961. He received his B.A. degree in Physical Education from William Penn College in Oskaloosa in 1966, and a Masters Degree in 1972 from Western Michigan University. In 1968, he was married to Betty Johnson at Lancaster, Missouri and later divorced. On September 8, 2001, he was united in marriage to Linda Cox at Cedar Methodist Church at Cedar. He taught and coached in the Oskaloosa Community Schools for six years, and then worked for the Southern Prairie AEA for 30 years from 1975 — 2006. He coached football and wrestling for Oskaloosa for 30 years. Since 2009 until the present, Phil worked for the Iowa Braille and Sightsaving School out of the Ottumwa office. He had a lifelong love for coaching, teaching, and mentoring. Phil delighted in being with family and had a soft spot for rescuing animals. He was one of the owners of Wall Street Willie, a harness racehorse that won the first pari-mutuel horse race in Iowa in 1989 at Prairie Meadows. Phil was a member of Integrity Masonic Lodge #584 at Bussey; the Elks #340 and the Optimist Clubs of Oskaloosa; and KAABA Shrine Temple, Davenport.
His family includes his wife, Linda James of Fremont; two daughters: Deb Fletcher of Oskaloosa and Wendy (& Stu) Stetter of Kirkville; four grandchildren: Tyler and Zach Fletcher and Nolan and Carson Stetter; three stepsons: Shawn (& Laura) Smith, Ottumwa, Cole Smith of Eldon, and Kyle Smith of Fremont; a stepdaughter: Michelle Smith of Rose Hill; a step grandson: Tristen Smith; a brother, Mike James of Bussey; an aunt, Pauline Wilson of Bussey; his mother in law: Shirley Cox of Eldon; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Phil was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 3, 2012, at 4:30 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with Pastors Richard Grimes and Paul Burrow officiating. To honor Phil’s wishes, attendees are encouraged to wear Oskaloosa School colors or casual attire. Cremation will follow the funeral ceremony. Visitation will begin Thursday after 11 a.m., and the family will be at the funeral chapel on Thursday from 4 – 8 p.m. to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to the Phil James Memorial Fund for area sports programs, or Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter.
