Eldon Edward James

Eldon Edward James, 86, of Abilene, passed away Saturday, January 16, 2016. A visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Stan Allcorn and Dr. Jeff Reid officiating. Graveside services will be at 1:00 pm on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 2301 North Sylvania Avenue in Ft. Worth, Texas directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home. Eldon was born outside of Ovalo, Texas on March 7, 1929 to Joe J. and Pearlie M. (Shelnutt) James. He grew up in Abilene and graduated from Saint Joseph’s Academy of Abilene. Eldon married Billie Lee Pierce on November 30, 1947, they lived in Abilene and he worked with the civil service at Dyess Air Force Base and moved to Hurst, Texas in 1971 to assume a position with the F.A.A. He retired from the F.A.A. in 1995. Billie passed away November 23, 1997; he then moved back to Abilene and married Ida Gamberger on January 9, 1999. Eldon attended Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. He will live in the hearts of those he is survived by; his wife, Ida James, daughter Sharon Owens and husband Dale of Clyde, son; David James and wife Dana of Seminole, FL., son; Darrell James and wife Pat of Keller, daughter; Darlene McDonell and husband d Michael of Tampa, FL., daughter; Trudy Smith of Abilene, son; Terry Gamberger and wife Pam of Abilene, sister; Cleta Gregg of Clyde, brother; Waymond James and wife Mildred of Red Oak, brother; Lonnie James and wife LaVonta of Arlington, sister; Connie James of Fort Worth, 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons: Jason Owens, James Owens, Travis James, Jared James, Austin James, Justin McDonell and Scott Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Billie and granddaughter Deanna Owens. Memorials may be made in Eldon’s honor to Meals on Wheels or Hospice of the Big Country.