November 27, 2006

Horace “Vale” James, 77, died on Monday, Nov. 27 in a Portsmouth hospital after a long battle with lung cancer. He was retired from Norfolk Naval Shipyard after 36 years of service. Mr. James served in the U.S. Air Force and was a Korean War veteran. He was predeceased by his parents, Jesse and Irene James, of Portsmouth, and three brothers, Jesse James, Charles E. James and Robert James.

He is survived by a son, Timothy Vale James and his wife Karen, of Suffolk; three grandsons, Brandon Vale, Brett Winston and Blake Thompson James; and Timothy’s mother, Norma Cline Parker, of Chesapeake; two brothers, Marion James and his wife Marcie and John “Jack” James and his wife Frances, both of Portsmouth; and his beloved and dear companion of many years, Nellie Gillis, of Sanford, N.C.

Vale was an avid horseshoe player who won many trophies in tournaments. His real love was fishing — especially for speckled trout and perch. As he said, “If it wasn’t speckled, it wasn’t a fish.” He will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

A memorial service will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, in Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Boulevard, by the Rev. William “Bill” Brock. Burial will be at a later date in Albert G. Horton Veterans Cemetery. The family will receive friends at 3714 Turnpike Rd., Portsmouth. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a favorite charity.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Dr. Eric Freeman.