James r. Lindsey, SR, age 91, of High Meadows in Roaring Gap, NC, died peacefully on Monday, December 5, 2016, surrounded by family who loved him dearly.

Jim is survived by his wife of 45 years, Jeanette Brown Lindsey. He is also survived by his former wife and mother of his children, Jean York Lindsey of Roanoke and by his children, James R. Lindsey Jr., Julie Lindsey Hunsaker, Janet Burrow and husband Richard, all of Roanoke, John York Lindsey and wife, LaRhonda of Cedar Bluff, JoAnne Hairston and husband Tom of Abingdon. He is also survived by step-son Raymond Jackson and wife, Karen of Pounding Mill; and step son Richard Jackson and wife Paula of Ocala, Fl., Jim is also survived by his brother Lt. Col. Harry Vaughn Lindsey, Jr. and wife, Jean, of Independence.

“Granddaddy” is survived by Dr. Jimmy Lindsey, John Lindsey, Lee Hunsaker Jody Hunsaker Haller, Amanda Phillips Martinez, Sarah Phillips Blum, Matt Phillips, Taylor, Katie, Maggie and Ellie Lindsey Simmons -Ratliff, Martin Simmons, Kayla Jackson Whited, Patrick and Ryan Jackson, and ten grandchildren-in-law Matt Dexter Shaffer, Levi and Silas Haller, Grace and Caroline Blum, Stella and Louisa Martinez, and Boone Ratliff. Uncle Jim Shaffer is survived by several nieces, nephews and other relatives.

James R. Lindsey was born to Harry Vaughn and Stella Crabtree Lindsey of Richlands on August 6, 1925. Jim graduated from Richlands High School in 1942 and then attended Greenbrier Military School on a football scholarship. From Greenbrier, he was recruited to play football at the University of Tennessee. When UT halted its 1943 season because of WWII, Jim was invited by coach Bobby Dodd to play for Georgia Tech. Jim rode the train to Atlanta and played for GT in the 1944 Sugar Bowl. Jim was drafted as soon as football season ended and served in the 3rd Air Force as a gunner on the B-29.

After the war, Jim attended Indiana University, graduating in 1948. With his wife, Jean and son, Jim Jr., he returned to Richlands and began his career in the life insurance business, Jim was an adventurous and enterprising businessman; day after day, he rode with coal truckers to sell life insurance policies to benefit the families of coal miners and truck driver of the region. He was most successful and was a leading salesman, featured in Time magazine and Sports Illustrated as a top salesman!

Jim was an outstanding person, businessman and well known and highly respected to all in southwest Virginia.