BOMBER MEMORIAL

JAMES FRANKLIN "JIM" EARP ~ Class of 1951
December 26, 1933 - February 11, 2013

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James Franklin Earp, a 20-year resident of Concord, NC, passed away February 11, 2013, at the Carolinas Medical Center Northeast in Concord.

Jim was born December 26, 1933, in Jenks, OK, the fourth of six children born to Willie (Bill) H. Earp and Edith Denton. His parents moved to Richland during WWII. Upon graduating from Columbia High School in 1951, Jim married his high school sweetheart, Ruthy Fred ('52-RIP) on December 31, 1951. They had two children, James and Brian.

Jim became a skilled union pipefitter at the Hanford nuclear reactors and eventually was promoted into management positions overseeing nuclear plant expansion and maintenance.

He married Lois Keys ('55-RIP) and moved to Clinton, CT in 1967, where he was employed by United Nuclear and helped raise Lois's two daughters, Sabrina and Valerie. Following her death to cancer, Jim married Theresa Barrett in 1973 and helped raise her children, Brent, Brenda, Michelle and Fred. Jim was a devoted father, actively participating in Boy Scouts, PTA, Little League, athletic boosters and youth sports. Following his retirement, Jim and Terry moved to Concord, NC, where he became a devoted NASCAR fan. He and Terry spent their remaining years traveling, visiting friends and family and serving in the Elks.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Terry, and brothers Guy and Ken ('49).

He is survived by sons Jim and Brian, step children: Sabrina, Valerie, Brent (Lori), Brenda (Collin), Michelle (Walter), and Fred (Kathy), 21 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Bill ('47), Gary, and Darlene Earp Glaser('56). * A memorial service was held at Wilkinson Funeral Home in Concord, NC on February 16, 2013,

In memory of his wife Lois and wife Theresa, who were taken by cancer, memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, 1901 Brunswick Ave, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28207.

On-line condolences may be left at http://www.wilkinsonfuneralhome.com/home.php

Published in the Charlotte Observer on February 14, 2013.