James Jim Ernest Minor, age 85, passed away Friday, November 19th, 2004 at Hospice House in Kennewick.

Jim was born April 10, 1919 on a farm north of Davenport, Washington to Ernest and Matilda Minor. His early life was on the farm until it was lost in the depression. He attended grade school in a country school until the farm was lost. Then his family moved to Davenport. His father became Lincoln county auditor, and Jim's schooling was in Davenport until his freshman year in high school. When his father was offered a position in the State Auditor's office, the family moved to Olympia, Washington. James completed high school in Olympia.

Jim then entered Washington State College in Pullman, WA. where he completed a BS degree in Chemical Engineering. During that time, Germany marched into Poland, and caused Jim to take senior ROTC-- he believed US participation in the world war to be inevitable. He graduated June 9, 1941 and received a reserve commission in the Corps of Engineers that day. His ROTC class was called to active duty for one year the next day. He was assigned to the 29th Engineer Topographic Battalion, stationed in Portland OR The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 caused our country to enter the war and Jim's one year of active duty was changed to the duration of the war.

In 1943, the 29th Engineers were ordered to provide a cadre to form the 660th Engineer Topographic Battalion, to be stationed in the European Theatre. Lt. Minor became the 660th's Battalion Adjutant. The cadre formed the Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company and, joined by a survey company from the 30th Engineers went to England in August 1943. The 660th became a full battalion when they joined ''B'' company photo mapping in Kew, England, and took command of ''C'' company reproduction in Cheltenham. The 660th did the mapping of the invasion beaches for D-day. '

After Paris had been freed, the 660th was moved there. The battalion commander was moved to Eisenhower's staff, a new commander assigned, and Captain Minor became the Executive officer. When the war ended, Major Minor, with enough ''points'' to go home, was made commander of a temporary battalion of soldiers headed for home. Major Minor was awarded a Bronze Star for his contribution to the Battalion's work.

Jim then enrolled in the University of Washington to do graduate work in physical chemistry. He had the great good fortune to meet Dorothy Ann Danny Sabro when he attended an ACS meeting in Portland, OR They were married January 28, 1950. After Jim completed his PhD they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where Jim was employed in the Proctor and Gamble research laboratories.

Ann Louise Minor was born in Cincinnati. In 1952, Jim and Danny moved to Richland where Jim was employed by the General Electric Company in the laboratories at Hanford. In the next 3 years James Craig and Carl Steven Minor were added to the family. In 1965, General Electric left Hanford and Battelle Memorial Institute formed the Battelle Northwest Laboratories. Jim was a line manager and a program manager for Battelle Northwest until he retired in 1987.

James participated in numerous civic activities:

Member, Richland Advisory City Council Member and Chairman, Richland School Board Member and Chairman, Board of Regents, Columbia Basin College Member and Chairman, Richland Library Board Member of the Electoral College 1988

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dorothy S. Minor; his parents Ernest and Matilda Minor; his brother Carl E. Minor; and his sister, E. Louise Minor Irish. He is survived by his children; Ann Minor, Craig Minor, and Steve Minor and 5 grandchildren; Leslie, Jordan, Phillip, Elliot and Anders.

James was a long-time member of Northwest United Protestant Church at 1312 Sacramento Blvd in Richland. Viewing will be held on Tuesday November 23rd from 5-8 PM at Einan’s Funeral Home. His funeral will be held at Northwest United Protestant Church on Wednesday November 24th at 11:00 am, with graveside services to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in James Minor’s name to Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice House, 2108 W. Entiat Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336