Irvin L. James

Irvin L. James, 79, of Wilmington, DE, passed away on Thursday, November 30, 2017. He was born and raised in West Virginia, son of the late Edith James Meade.

Irvin was a proud veteran of the United States Navy having served 4 years of active duty and another 8 years in the Reserves. During and following this period of time, Irvin was also pursuing his education in plumbing, pipefitting and auto mechanics. Irvin had worked for NVF, Atlas Chemicals (ICI), Shapdale Corporation, and EI DuPont Stine-Haskell Lab, from which he retired in 1998.

In his spare time, Irvin enjoyed boating, fishing and bowling.

Irvin is survived by his wife of 58 years, Brookie James; his beloved children, Kathy Esdale (Chris) and David James (Laura) of Wilmington, DE and Jessica Reinartz (Roel) of Binghamton, NY; his cherished grandchildren, Lindsay Lorenzano (Luis), Melissa Banks (Joshua), Christa Gery (Nick), Jodie Maichle (Shawn), Kaitlyn Esdale, Owen Reinartz, Sean Reinartz; his 4 great-grandsons, Cameron Lorenzano, Julian Lorenzano, Ethan Banks, and Colton Maichle; and his sister, Carol Grove of Wilmington.

In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death his sisters, Janet Sue Biddle and Linda Meade.

Family and friends are invited to visit from 5:00 – 7:00pm on Monday, December 4, 2017 at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808, where a funeral service will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at 10:00am. Interment will follow in Gracelawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Irvin’s memory can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 or to the Wilmington Church of God, 2410 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, DE 19808.

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