JAMES MEACHEN
June 22, 1921 - Aug. 7, 2006
James H. "Jim" Meachen, 85, of 3102 Cashwell Drive, died Monday at Kitty Askins Hospice Center.
He was born in Page, N.D., in 1921 and was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Martha Meachen of Ellendale, N.D., and a sister, Mariam.
He was a 1942 graduate of the University of North Dakota - Ellendale and later earned Master's degrees in industrial arts from Iowa State University and in special education from Western Michigan University.
He joined the United States Marine Corps as an officer in 1942 and took part in the Pacific campaign against the Japanese on the islands of Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal and Guam.
Following his discharge from the Marines in 1946 and completion of a Master's Degree at Iowa State University, Jim worked until 1958 for the Iowa State Department of Public Instruction. In 1958 he became a recruiter and teacher at Augustana Academy in Canton, S. D., and from 1971 to 1981 taught at Starr Commonwealth for Boys in Albion, Mich.
Jim and his wife, Lily, retired to Goldsboro in 1981 where they became active volunteers for several organizations including the Red Cross Bloodmobile, AARP and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
Jim was a member of the Goldsboro Golden K Kiwanis Club where he served as president and as the Carolinas District lieutenant governor. He was also president of the Wayne County branch of the AARP.
Jim was active in the work of Good Shepherd where he served on the church council and for many years taught adult Bible school. In 2003, Jim was awarded an honorary life membership in the Lutheran Men's Club.
Jim and Lily were honored in 1999 by the Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross for outstanding volunteer service.
In addition to Lily, his wife of 63 years, Jim is survived by two daughters, Susan Skaggs and her husband, Charles, of Sequim, Wash., and Linda Brown and her husband, Jerry, of Wales, Wis.; two sons, Jim Meachen and his wife, Luci, of Goldsboro; and Edward Meachen and his wife, Francine, of Madison, Wis.; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The family will greet friends from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Country Day Road and at other times at the residence at 3102 Cashwell Drive, Unit 23. The funeral service will be held at the church beginning at 3 p.m. Wednesday with Rev. William Ordelt Jr. presiding.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Christian Education fund), 432 Country Day Road, Goldsboro, 27530, or to Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 2402 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, 27534.
Arrangements by Seymour Funeral Home.
(Written & Paid by the Family)
Published in Obituaries on August 8, 2006 2:04 PM