CHARLES MONROE JAMES 12/26/1932-11/07/2020

Charles Monroe James of Johnston City passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Saturday, November 7th at the age of 87. June James, his loving wife of 50 years was by his side to hold his hand. He is preceded in death by his father, Frank, and mother Ruth James of Herrin, his sister Joyce Lawrence of Herrin, and his son, Paul. He is survived by his wife, his sister Sandy Adams (Tom), his eldest son, David (Pam) in Texas, stepdaughters Carla McNeely (Kevin) of Marion and Catherine Turner of Arizona, and son Robert of California.

Monroe spent the past 2 years residing at the Veterans Home in Anna-Jonesboro. He served 5 years in the United States Navy as a radar operator in the blimp squadrons of Key West during the Korean War. Upon separating from the military, he worked as a NASA contractor and pad supervisor for the Apollo Program. After additional work in the aeronautical field with Rockwell International, Grumman, and McDonnell-Douglas, he returned to Southern Illinois in the 1960s.

James was an equipment operator and electrician at Inland Steel/Consol's coal mining operation in Sesser until his retirement. After retiring from mining, he served as an auxiliary sheriff volunteer for the Williamson County Sheriff, later taking on a full-time position as security at Williamson County Courthouse in Marion.

His was a life lived fully. And he will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Fair winds and following seas.

Services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Wednesday November 11, 2020, in the Murman & Wilson Funeral Home in Johnston City with Pastor Steve Shea officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Egyptian Memorial Gardens in Energy with graveside military rites conducted by the Marion V.F.W, American Legion, and the U.S. Navy Burial Honors Team and graveside committal by Pastor Kevin McNeely.