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Roll Call Tribute
James Van Pelt '50 February 11, 2011 3:27 PM
Amarillo Globe-News, Dec. 15, 2010
James Grady Van Pelt
Amarillo
James Grady Van Pelt, 87, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in St. Paul United Methodist Church with the Rev. Perry Hunsaker officiating. Private burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Mr. Van Pelt was born June 16, 1923, on the family farm/home in Collingsworth County, to Grady and Ava McCaskill Van Pelt. He grew up in the farming and livestock business, and graduated from Wellington High School. Mr. Van Pelt served in the Marine Corps in World War II. He served in the South Pacific, where he was assigned to guard duty with the First Marine Air Wing. He finished his overseas tour on Okinawa.
On Dec. 20, 1945, he married Frankie Marie Talbot in First Methodist Church in Wellington. In December 1946, they went to College Station. She worked in the College Exchange Store while he attended Texas A&M on the GI Bill. He got his degree from the school of agriculture in January 1950.
In the fall of 1950, Mr. Van Pelt began his career in agricultural credit as assistant manager of the Memphis Production Credit Association. In January 1952, he was advanced to president of the association, a position which he held for 13 years. During those years, he served on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce and County Board of Development. He also served as president of the Memphis Lions Club.
Mr. Van Pelt moved to the Amarillo Production Credit Association in January 1965. He moved his family of Mrs. Van Pelt and two sons to Dumas where he opened a branch office of Amarillo PCA. In 1967, he completed the final stage of his move to the Amarillo Association. He moved from Dumas to the central office in Amarillo to assume the management of the Association.
He served as president of the organization for twenty-three years during which time it achieved tremendous growth, and made an appreciable contribution to the start up of the cattle feeding industry in the area. In 1990, Mr. Van Pelt was named to the Texas Academy of Honor in Agricultural Credit.
After his retirement in 1991, Mr. Van Pelt served for two years as executive director of the Texas Federation of PCAs, and he became active in Lionism with the Amarillo Downtown Club. He served for six years as president of the Lions High Plains Eyeglass Program, working primarily with the school nurses to provide eye care for disadvantaged students. He was honored as a Melvin Jones Fellow, an award of the Lions International Foundation.
James enjoyed fishing, quail hunting, challenging domino games, 'Gig 'Em' Aggie football, grandkids and family events.
Survivors include his wife, Frankie Marie; two sons, Jim and wife Suzanne of Amarillo and John and wife Mary of Wayside; four grandchildren, Grady Van Pelt and wife Apryll and Stephanie Elaine Hurst and husband Scott, all of Tulia, and Bobby Van Pelt and Paige Van Pelt, both of Amarillo; four darling great-grandchildren, Jolie, Jenna and Mason Van Pelt and Kenadi Hurst, all of Tulia; a brother, Newell Van Pelt of Vernon; a sister-in-law, Deanna Van Pelt Gonzales of San Antonio; and a host of nieces and nephews.
The family suggests memorials be to Amarillo Downtown Lions Club Eyeglass Program, P.O. Box 2792, Amarillo, TX 79105.
Visitation will follow the services at the church.
Leave online condolences at www.boxwellbrothers.com.
James Grady Van Pelt
Amarillo
James Grady Van Pelt, 87, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in St. Paul United Methodist Church with the Rev. Perry Hunsaker officiating. Private burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Mr. Van Pelt was born June 16, 1923, on the family farm/home in Collingsworth County, to Grady and Ava McCaskill Van Pelt. He grew up in the farming and livestock business, and graduated from Wellington High School. Mr. Van Pelt served in the Marine Corps in World War II. He served in the South Pacific, where he was assigned to guard duty with the First Marine Air Wing. He finished his overseas tour on Okinawa.
On Dec. 20, 1945, he married Frankie Marie Talbot in First Methodist Church in Wellington. In December 1946, they went to College Station. She worked in the College Exchange Store while he attended Texas A&M on the GI Bill. He got his degree from the school of agriculture in January 1950.
In the fall of 1950, Mr. Van Pelt began his career in agricultural credit as assistant manager of the Memphis Production Credit Association. In January 1952, he was advanced to president of the association, a position which he held for 13 years. During those years, he served on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce and County Board of Development. He also served as president of the Memphis Lions Club.
Mr. Van Pelt moved to the Amarillo Production Credit Association in January 1965. He moved his family of Mrs. Van Pelt and two sons to Dumas where he opened a branch office of Amarillo PCA. In 1967, he completed the final stage of his move to the Amarillo Association. He moved from Dumas to the central office in Amarillo to assume the management of the Association.
He served as president of the organization for twenty-three years during which time it achieved tremendous growth, and made an appreciable contribution to the start up of the cattle feeding industry in the area. In 1990, Mr. Van Pelt was named to the Texas Academy of Honor in Agricultural Credit.
After his retirement in 1991, Mr. Van Pelt served for two years as executive director of the Texas Federation of PCAs, and he became active in Lionism with the Amarillo Downtown Club. He served for six years as president of the Lions High Plains Eyeglass Program, working primarily with the school nurses to provide eye care for disadvantaged students. He was honored as a Melvin Jones Fellow, an award of the Lions International Foundation.
James enjoyed fishing, quail hunting, challenging domino games, 'Gig 'Em' Aggie football, grandkids and family events.
Survivors include his wife, Frankie Marie; two sons, Jim and wife Suzanne of Amarillo and John and wife Mary of Wayside; four grandchildren, Grady Van Pelt and wife Apryll and Stephanie Elaine Hurst and husband Scott, all of Tulia, and Bobby Van Pelt and Paige Van Pelt, both of Amarillo; four darling great-grandchildren, Jolie, Jenna and Mason Van Pelt and Kenadi Hurst, all of Tulia; a brother, Newell Van Pelt of Vernon; a sister-in-law, Deanna Van Pelt Gonzales of San Antonio; and a host of nieces and nephews.
The family suggests memorials be to Amarillo Downtown Lions Club Eyeglass Program, P.O. Box 2792, Amarillo, TX 79105.
Visitation will follow the services at the church.
Leave online condolences at www.boxwellbrothers.com.
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