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James Henry Volkman
08/29/1920 — 01/29/2013
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Gage, OK
James Henry Volkman
James Henry Volkman, born August 29, 1920, died January 29, 2013. James Jim was born in Gage, Oklahoma to parents Mary and Richard Volkman. The family moved to Selah, Washington during the Dust Bowl Era. Jim went to high school his senior year in Selah; after he graduated he joined the CCC Civilian Conservation Corps. When WWII began Jim joined the Navy, and he became an electrician's mate. After six years in the Navy Jim decided that he would make a career as an electrician and graduated from a technical college in Chicago with an electrical degree.
Jim moved back to Yakima, where he secured a job in 1949 with General Electric as an electrician at the Hanford Site. Jim met his first wife Gladys Babbitt in Yakima. They moved to Richland and had four children with two step-children from Gladys' previous marriage. In 1973 Jim remarried to Mildred Millie Sommers and added to his fold five step-children.
Jim enjoyed a long career at Hanford first starting with General Electric and then retiring after 39 years with United Nuclear in 1983. Jim was a member of the Local Electricians IBEW International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Jim has always enjoyed, and has been a long life avid player and watcher of golf. He and Millie were long time members of the West Richland Golf Club. Jim and Millie have a wonderful church family and are members of the Richland Lutheran Church. Jim lived a great life and he was a wonderful father and husband. He often said he had no regrets in life.
Jim is survived by his wife Midred Millie Volkman and his brother Melvin Volkman; children Marcia Gary Spaulding, Daniel Teryl Volkman, David Shirley Volkman, Melanie John Wright; stepchildren Ron Babbitt, Marilyn Hacker, Linda Evanson, Emmett Sommers, Merrill Sommers, and Walt Sommers. Jim is preceded in death by his mother Mary Volkman, father Richard Dick Volkman, sister Ruby Pittman, brother Carl Volkman, and step-daughter Nancy Collier. Jim has nine Grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial Service to commemorate Jim's life with friends and family will be held at the Richland Lutheran Church, 901 Van Giesen Street, Richland, WA on Monday, February 4, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Richland Lutheran Church.
Our prayers are with you Millie. We are grateful that we were able to visit with Jim at Christmas time over at Eagle. Erv and LaVonne
I worked with Jim in the 200 Areas during the 1950s. I was his apprentice in the electrical field. We had a great relationship and I stayed in touch over the years at W.R. Golf Course.
I extend my sympathy to Mildred and the rest of Jim’s family.
Melanie,
I’m very sorry to hear of your dad’s death. Boy, I can sure see some of you in his photo! I wish the best for you, John, your mom and your family. You are in Denise and my prayers.
Steve
Our prayers are with you Millie. We are grateful that we were able to visit with Jim at Christmas time over at Eagle. Erv and LaVonne
I worked with Jim in the 200 Areas during the 1950s. I was his apprentice in the electrical field. We had a great relationship and I stayed in touch over the years at W.R. Golf Course.
I extend my sympathy to Mildred and the rest of Jim’s family.
Melanie,
I’m very sorry to hear of your dad’s death. Boy, I can sure see some of you in his photo! I wish the best for you, John, your mom and your family. You are in Denise and my prayers.
Steve
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James Henry Volkman