James Lewis Stuart
February 18, 1944 — February 17, 2016
James Lewis Stuart, age 71, USMC Ret. (MSgt.) died at the North Carolina Veteran’s Administration facility in Kinston on February 17th, 2016.
“Jim” was born February 18th, 1944 in Bloomington, Illinois to Merlin Stuart and Thelma Holst.
In 1962, after graduating high school, in Frankfort, Indiana, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He married his wife, Marcia, in 1967. The couple celebrated their lives and love for each other for forty-nine years.
After twenty years in the Marine Corps, including a tour in Vietnam, Jim retired a Master Sergeant in 1982 in Havelock, North Carolina. After serving his country as a United States Marine, he continued his career working for the federal government as a quality assurance inspector aboard Cherry Point for the next twenty-two years. In retirement, Jim served a number of terms as a Havelock City Commissioner and was the curator of the Eastern Carolina Aviation Heritage Foundation.
Jim Stuart served the Havelock community with pride, honor and dedication. He resigned his position from both boards July 2015, as a result from a stroke he suffered the year previous.
A funeral service with military honors will be held 1:00 Sunday afternoon, February 21st at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 1100 E. Main St. Havelock.
A small reception will follow in the parish hall following the service.
He is survived by his mother, Thelma Holst; his wife, Marcia Stuart; two sons, James Lewis Stuart Jr. and Michael Lewis Stuart; his brother, Bob Stuart; and his five grandchildren, Blake, Duncan, Julia, Winifred, and William.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jim’s honor can be made to:
Eastern Carolina Aviation Heritage Foundation
PO Box 368
Havelock, NC 28532