JAMES FRANCIS WOPART, JR 1931 – 2019

James Francis Wopart, Jr. of Parrish, Florida passed away on August 12, 2019.
Jim, the only child of James F. and Margaret Sullivan Wopart, was born
September 27, 1931 in Archbald, Pennsylvania. His former wife, Beverly
Stanek of Binghamton, New York, precedes him in death.
Jim moved from the coal mining town of his birth to Binghamton, NY during
World War II. He was employed by Comerford Theatres, IBM and Link
Aviation. It was through his association with Ed Link, President of Link
Aviation, that his life-long dedication to saving lives was nurtured.

He was a farsighted entrepreneur and inventor and was awarded several patents
for products related to flight and traffic safety during his lifetime. He
conceived and implemented the first Automated Driver License Knowledge
Testing system currently used by DMV’s in the USA and Canada. Jim traveled
extensively throughout the USA and abroad in pursuit of his goal of saving
lives of aircrews and passengers, and citizen traveling on our nation’s
highways.

Jim moved from Tulsa, OK to Clearwater, FL in 1981. He and his wife Rebecca
Brooks Wopart lived in various cities in Florida before moving to Parrish in
2001 where he retired in 2014.

He is survived by his devoted wife Rebecca of 37 years; two sons, Theodore
(Rita) and James III, three daughters, Marilyn Buchfink (Danny), Marie
Wopart, all of Oklahoma and Traci Rossetti (Joseph) of Holiday, FL.; eight
grandchildren, Spencer (Alana), Audrey, Sarah, Jamee, Adrienne, Ryane
(Drew), Todd and Frank; nine great grandchildren, Gabrielle, Parker,
Alexandria, Rose, Jake, Freyja, Phoenyx, Nash and Bear James.
Jim was a member of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini Catholic Church in Parrish,
FL.

He served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War
and will be honorably laid to rest at the Sarasota National Cemetery.