BERLIN, N.H. – Richard Gerald James Sr., of Bethel, died peacefully Friday, July 15, on his way home from Florida.

He was born in Princeton, son of Viola Albert and Merton James on Feb. 11, 1934. He had been a resident of Bethel for 38 years. He graduated from Boston University with a degree in business management and served in the Army as a radio operator in the Signal Corps for three years.

He was employed as a supervisor in the Rumford mill for many years. He then turned his hobby of woodworking into a career, until his retirement.

He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, hunting, skiing and gardening. He also enjoyed crossword puzzles and watching his beloved Red Sox win the World Series.

He was married on Oct. 15, 1961, to Barbara Bean in Natick, Mass., who survives him. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, and will be sadly missed.

He is survived by his wife of Bethel; three sons, Richard Jr., and his wife, Tammy, of Hanover, Robert and his wife, Heidi, of Newry, and Thomas and his companion, Harmony Mills, of Bethel; one daughter, Linda and her husband, Reginald, of Pittsfield, Mass.; two brothers, Merton of Billerica, Mass., and Francis of Island Falls and Brooksville, Fla. He was known as “Grampy” to his seven grandchildren, Jessica, Whitney and Ricky James of Hanover, Lindsay and Tyler of Newry, and Lucy and Sam of Pittsfield; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a brother, Carl.

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