James Etheridge

James Dawson Etheridge was born in Humboldt, Tennessee in 1930. He passed away at age 94 in Bellevue, Washington on February 16, 2025.

Jim was an only child whose family moved throughout the Ohio Valley region of the U.S. more times than there were years between birth and twelfth grade. After graduating high school in Elnora, Indiana, Jim served in the U.S. Marine corps as a sergeant in an engineering battalion during the Korean war. He built facilities in the high Sierras for cold weather training and learned to play golf towards the end of his service. After military service and with help from the GI bill, Jim was the first in his family to graduate college. In 1958, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University and started his engineering career in Texas working on fighter aircraft for Chance Vought Aircraft Corporation. That same year, Jim met Marilyn Jean Hannah, and their wedding took place the following year in Palisade, Colorado. Their daughter Mary was born in 1960, and son Dwight arrived in 1962. For two decades, the family made their home in Irving, Texas. During the 60s and 70s, Jim’s hobbies included golfing, bass fishing, and repairing cathode-ray tube TVs. In 1977, a corporate layoff brought about a move to Bellevue, Washington, and a welcome change from defense contract work to commercial airplanes. Jim’s new adventures in the Pacific Northwest included snow skiing, salmon fishing, and friendships with fellow members of the Bellevue Golf Course Men’s Club.

In 1995, Jim retired from his eighteen-year career with Boeing and pursuit of his golf game quickly became a daily habit. He took pride in shooting under his age and sinking a hole-in-one at age 90. Jim golfed for nearly seventy years, always walking the courses. A man of few words known for his jumpsuit attire, he taught golf and cribbage to his two, young grandsons, who called him “Grand Dude.” Jim valued practicality and frugality and expressed his feelings in short phrases such as “be careful,” which meant “I love you.”

Jim was steadfastly by Marilyn’s side for more than 50 years of marriage until her death in 2010. Preceded in death by his father Roy Franklin Etheridge, and his mother Mary Lou (Phillips) Etheridge West. Survived by son Dwight Etheridge, daughter Mary Joyce, grandsons Philip Joyce and Timothy Joyce, and two great grandchildren.

At age 92, Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s related dementia. His last days were supported by the caregivers at Ohana Hale adult family home in Bellevue and frequent visits from Mary and Dwight. Jim will be remembered for his quiet manner and considerate ways. His ashes will rest eternally with Marilyn’s in Tahoma National Cemetery Columbaria, Wall D Row B Niche 143. Semper Fidelis.