James Edward Ketcham
Born: March 26, 1926
Lonoke, Arkansas
Entered the Kingdom of Heaven: February 9, 2011
Saint Petersburg, Florida
James Edward Ketcham was born to Guy Curtis (Bunk) and Carrie (Ozella (Singleton) Ketcham. Bunk Ketcham was from Tennessee and Carrie Singleton Ketcham was from Arkansas. James grew up in the back country of Arkansas. Prior to joining the U.S. Navy he was a rice farmer. He was trained as a machinist engineer. After his honorable discharge he worked in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at a radio tower. His co-worker Tony Vogel was dating Mrytle Butterfield who introduced her sister Velma Lorene Butterfield to James. They were married December 1, 1950 in sourthern Illinois at Velma’s brother’s home, Earl and his wife Jean Butterfield. The first child born to James and Velma was Loretta Ann, followed by Kathryn Jean, and James Edward Ketcham, II. James and Velma primarily lived in the state of Illinois, starting in southern Illinois, with a brief time in Tyler, Texas, then Carpentersville, outside Elgin, Illinois which is close to Chicago. Then, James found work at the Caterpillar Company in Peoria, Illinois. During this time the family lived in a hamlet known as Green Valley, Illinois which is midstate. Velma’s younger sister Dorothy (Dotty) June Butterfield Gibson was involved in a fatal tragic accident. This brought James and Velma to Florida to help with the care of Dotty’s children. Once in Florida, the family remained where James worked in construction for United building condominiums. Then he worked at a local dairy in production at Flav-o-rich.
James was widowed when Velma Lorene passed away in 1990. He worked a few more years at Flav-o-rich before he retired. Another difficult time in his life was the loss of his son, James Edward Ketcham, II on January 2, 2009.
James is survived by his two daughters and daughter-in-law: Loretta Ann (Ketcham) & Robert L. Wilcoxen, their three children, Lorene Ruth Wilcoxen, Jennifer Ellen Wilcoxen & daughter Emma Grace Wilcoxen, Robert Lee III & Sally Wilcoxen and their two daughters, Rebecca Ann and Kayla Mae.
Kathryn Jean (Ketcham) & Alex G. Panagiotacos have two sons, G. Alexander & Jaime Panagiotacos and their four children Rebecca Kathryn, Makayla Joy, G. Alexander, II, Timothy Martin. Youngest James Andrew & Faith Panagiotacos, expecting their first child in May.
James Edward Ketcham, II (deceased 01/02/2009) & surviving spouse Debbie Kecham. Jim and Debbie have two children, James Edward Ketcham, III and Melissa Nicole Ketcham.
Sister Bess Tate, Lonoke, Arkansas, Nephews Mike & wife (Kenna) Tate, Memphis, Tennessee, Barry Tate, Lonoke, Arkansas.
In honor of James E. Ketcham, my Dad, I will always treasure the special times we shared. I am grateful for the love you showed to me, my husband Alex and our sons Alexander and James Andrew. For welcoming their wives into our family, for showing your pride and love for the four great grandchildren and for Faith and James’s little one due this spring. For the many days of carpooling when the boys were growing up, for attending school activities, especially band performances and showing your caring support. Thank you for all your love down through the years. We sorely miss you already, we know you are with Mom and Jim. Love always, Kathryn
Hard to beleive it has been 1 month today that Dad went home to be with his Lord and Jim and Mom. How I miss him coming and going in the house. And always asking if the girls are coming for dinner. Kathy and I miss you Dad andwe sit and talk about the family times together. I know we will think of your 85 th birthday coming up soon. Yesterday would have been Mom’s 80th. Take care of Mom and Jim until we see you on the other side. Your Daughter Loretta