James T Whitsitt

James T. Whitsitt, 93, of Port Huron, had a glorious day January 17, 2012 when he went to see the Lord face to face and reunite with the love of his life, Clara.

Jim was born in Sombra, Ontario, September 18, 1918. He and his family came to America one wintery day on a sled when he was a toddler. After a brief stay in Florida, the family made their home in Marysville and became American citizens. Jim was president of the Marysville class of 1936 which had 14 students, 7 boys and 7 girls. He played trumpet in the band and ran track, winning 1st place in the 880 yard relay at the Michigan High School Athletic Association State Track and Field Meet.

Jim proudly enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and served honorably, achieving the rank of First Class Petty Officer. His assignments were many and varied, including a tour in the Aleutian Islands. During World War II, Jim was stationed aboard the USS Rawlins, which was assigned an extremely dangerous mission. The crewmembers of the USS Rawlins were told not to expect to return home. Fortunately, the war ended while the Rawlins was steaming toward Japan.

Following the war, Jim went back to Mueller Brass where he had previously worked in the lab. The only position available was in sales where he worked hard, rapidly becoming the sales manager and retiring in 1981.

Jim met Clara one night at a dance and asked her out for Monday night. After that they never dated another. They married in 1941 and had 59 beautiful years together. When Clara became ill in 1986 Jim never left her side, sleeping in chairs at the hospital and nursing her for the next 14 years until she passed.

Jim was a lifetime member of the Elks and Masons. He contributed to several charities and worked on the March of Dimes Jail and Bail for many years.

Jim was always an optimistic person who loved life and would be the first to tell you he had a great one. He loved people and made friends where ever he went. He was a kind gentleman. Jim will be missed by all who knew him, from the waitresses at the Big Boy who helped him get Clara from the car into “their” seat, to the caretakers who so lovingly took care of him in his last month, his friends at the Blue Water Lodge, his close friend, Dr. Thabit Bahhur, and most of all his family who gathered together with him every Saturday morning for the last 20 years for breakfast.

Jim is survived by nephews, Christopher, Donald, Ray, Larry and Michael Thornton; niece, Susan (Bruce) Carmody, several great nieces and great great nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 20, 2012 in Pollock-Randall Funeral Home with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Reverend Max Amstutz will officiate. Military honors will be conducted under the auspices of the St. Clair County Allied Veterans Council.

Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, St. Clair.

Memorial contributions may be made to the March of Dimes.