Jesse D. James, 88, of North Vernon, passed away at 3:15 a.m. on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at Hickory Creek Healthcare in Greensburg.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral and Cremation Service.  Rev. Butch Wooddell will officiate.  Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service.  Burial will be in Butlerville Cemetery with military honors.

Born February 26, 1929, in Ripley County, Jesse was the son of the late Attilla and Goldie Reynolds James.  He is survived by his wife, H. Marie Meadows James.

Jesse served in the United States Air Force from 1946-1949.  He retired from Cummins after 28 years of employment.  He was a member of Christ Baptist Church, AmVets, and Columbus Experimental Aircraft Association.

Jesse is survived by his wife, Marie; daughters, Sandra Tillery and Tammy Lee of North Vernon; one son, Jimmie (Kathryn) James of Elizabethtown; two step-sons, Calvin (Debbie) Einhaus of Franklin and Trevor Einhaus of Sarasota, FL; one brother, Calvin Royce of North Vernon; 21 grandchildren and numerous greatgrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Attilla and Goldie James; one son, David Allen James; two sisters, Lillian Wells and Beatrice Meadows; and one brother, Edward Allen James.

Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Christ Baptist Church.