LEWIS CLAIR JAMES
Lewis Clair James, only son of Victor and Anna Evelyn (Jackson) James was born November 10, 1944 on the family farm near Redding, IA. Lewis passed away August 1, 2019 in San Antonio after a courageous battle with cancer.
Lewis married Maria del Carmen Varona in Salamanca, Mexico in 1974. They recently celebrated their forty-fifth wedding anniversary. Maria survives to cherish Lewis memory in their home in San Antonio, TX.
Other survivors include his sister Mary Ellen (Larry) Kimble of Grant City, MO; twin sister Becky James, Des Moines, IA; brothers-in-law Santiago (Patricia) Varona and Jose (Rosa) of Salamanca, Mexico; many nieces, nephews other relatives, plus a host of friends.
Preceding Lewis in passing were his parents, dear niece, Vickie Kimble, special uncle, Delbert Jackson, brothers-in-law, Fernando Varona and Miguel Varona of Salamanca, Mexico.
Lewis attended Iowa State University graduating in 1967 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He honored his profession by working in refineries in many states and countries worldwide. These locations included: Houston, TX, East Chicago, IL, Boston; New Jersey; Lake Charles, LA; Mexico; Saudi Arabia; Netherlands; Norway; Turkey; Japan; China; Hong Kong; Singapore.
Although Lewis and Maria had no children of their own, they generously opened their home to nieces from Mexico who wanted to enhance their education in the United States.
Lewis and Maria enjoyed traveling. In their retirement years they especially enjoyed taking ocean cruises. In all of their travels they made new friends. These travel friends were added to their many friends in their neighborhood of Sonterra in San Antonio, TX.
Lewis was a quiet, soft-spoken, unassuming man. He loved to read, visit and tease with his nieces and nephews; reminisce with family members in Iowa and Missouri (especially his Uncle Delbert); visit and socialize with their many neighbors and friends.
He will be greatly and sadly missed by all who knew him. And he will always be remembered as the special man that he was.
