Obituary: Worthington, James Madison
Jim’s loss is mourned by Dorothy, his devoted wife of 61 years, by his four children and spouses (Carol and David, JoAnn and Mike, Suzie and John, and Jimmy), his six grandchildren and spouses (T.J. and Vonie, Jeremy and Nicole, Nicole and Sammy, Katie and Toby, Willy, and Daniel), his six great-grandchildren (Jayden, Taylor, Noah, Sawyer, Sullivan, and Madison), his sister Betty, over three dozen members of a loving extended family (including nieces, nephews, and cousins once- and twice-removed), and by numerous friends and former pupils who remember him with fondness after many decades.
James Madison Worthington was born in Hazelton, Idaho and raised, along with his sisters Betty and Dora, on a farm outside Lethbridge, Alberta.
After moving back to the States, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as Secretary to the Admiral upon the U.S.S.
Ticonderoga.
Back in civilian life, he moved to Spokane, where he eventually taught grade school.
At the age of 42, already with a family of his own to support, Jim went back to school and earned a Masters degree in Education from Gonzaga University before working his way to Principal of East Valley Junior High, a position he proudly served with great skill until his retirement in 1985.
Jim enjoyed in particular presiding with his wife Dorothy over a large, close family at their home in Spokane Valley, and especially at their lake home on Lower Twin Lake (Idaho) during the summers, where relatives gladly gathered annually from all over the west coast to hear his recollections and tall tales of growing up on the southern Alberta prairie during the Great Depression.
He is remembered especially for the satisfaction he derived from his family, for his ability to recite Robert Service poems as if they’d been composed to memorialize his own life, and last but not least, for his astonishing ability to consume daunting quantities of chocolate cake without so much as an ounce of weight gain to his ever-slender frame.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, December 8, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church, 518 W. 3rd Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central United Methodist Church.
Please visit Jim’s on-line memorial at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com Arrangements entrusted to: