By Staff
December 12, 2004
Funeral for James Fred English, Jr., 87, of Hartselle will be Thursday (today), Dec. 16, at 11 a.m. at East Highland Baptist Church with the Revs. Walter Blackmon and Charles Stone officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery.
Mr. English died Sunday, Dec., 12, 2004, at his residence. He was born Feb. 10, 1917, in Morgan County to James Frederick English, Sr. and Maggie Pfaff English. He attended Austinville High School and graduated from Riverside High School in Decatur in 1935 and Auburn University in 1939. He was a member of the Golden Eagle Club at Auburn. After graduation, he taught at Hatton High School where he started the Agriculture Program. He entered the military in 1943 serving in the Philippines and Japan as a meteorologist in the 82nd Tactical Division of the Army-Air Force. Following military service, he taught Agriculture at Russellville High School before moving to Spring City, Tenn., where he also taught Agriculture. He owned and operated a Western Auto Store for 25 years. Upon retirement, he became a realtor for Willingham Realty. He was a member of Spring City United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School for over 30 years; was a member of the Kiwanis Club for 20 years; the Spring City American Legion; served as Vice-Mayor of the City Council; served as a Volunteer Fireman and Rhea County Rescue Squad; Rhea Springs Lodge #310; and the Rhea Springs Chapter #83 RAM. He was a director of the Hamilton National Bank of Spring City, and a member of the Gideons International.
Mr. English was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Mildred Stephenson English and his parents and stepmother, Minnie Pfaff English. He moved to Hartselle when he was married to Bettye White English in 1987 where he quickly became an active part of the community. He served as president, director and chaplain of Hartselle Civitan; delivered Meals On Wheels; was a member of Hartselle Chapter of AARP; Adult Men's Sunday School Class of East Highland Baptist Church; and South Morgan Gideon Camp giving him 32 years of service to Gideons International.
He is survived by his wife, Bettye White English of Hartselle; four daughters, Charlotte Mullis and husband Buddy of Anniston, Helen Ingram and husband Bennie of Jackson, Miss, Barbara McPhail and husband Walter of Greenville, SC, Marne Price and husband Mark of Franklin, Tenn; grandchildren, Lynette and Kyle Ingram, Fran and Jane McPhail, Kathryn and Chris Price; one sister, Frances Philpot Evans and husband Arthur; step-sister, Mary Alma Hambrick; several nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Noah Webster, Bill Smelser, Allen Drinkard, Ronald Grantland, Micky Smith, Randy Steeps, Tony Logan and Richard Gurley.
Honorary pallbearers will be Gideons of Morgan County, and Adult I Men's Sunday School Class at East Highland Baptist Church.
Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 602, Hartselle, AL 35640 or East Highland Baptist Church.