Raised in an Army family, Jim was born in Frankfurt, Germany and quickly became a world traveler. By the time Jim graduated high school at Camp Zama, Japan, he attended seven schools in three countries: the United States, Greece and Japan. After graduating high school, he briefly attended Texas A&M University and Shoreline Community College prior to earning his B.A in Economics from Washington State University. After completing ROTC at the University of Idaho, he followed in his father’s military footsteps and was commissioned as a U.S. Navy Lieutenant in 1979. During his six years on active duty, Jim served on the USS Takelma and USS Meyerkord. After leaving active duty, Jim continued to serve as a reservist for the next 24 years stationed at various posts and ships in the greater Puget Sound area and in Hawaii (NR COMINEGRU ONE, USS Pledge, USS Gallant, USS Enhance, COMINEDIV 51, NR USCINCPAC, COMNAVSURFGRU PACNORWEST, NR VTU 2205G). He was recalled to active duty several times, including during Operation Desert Shield/Storm, where he was the Operations Officer for mine clearing operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf. He completed a National Security and Strategic Studies program at the US Naval War College in 1995. After 30 years of military service, Jim retired from the Navy in 2009. Jim balanced being a reservist with an IT career - he was employed by Egghead Discount Software, Excell Data (Microsoft), CompuCom, and Routh Crabtree Olsen. Prior to his civilian retirement in 2018, Jim was Director of Technology Support for Realty in Motion/ RCO Legal. Jim was an avid swimmer, often competing in open water swims and continued to participate in a weekly swim group. Jim loved reading and was often called upon by his family for his vast and wide-ranging knowledge. Much to the dismay of his nephew and nieces at times, he loved practical jokes and teasing. He was generous in spirit, but never wanted the accolades. Family was everything to him. Jim is survived by his mother, Patricia Griswold of Bellevue, WA; sisters, Susan Gunderson of Bellevue and Katherine (Lee) Prewitt of Snoqualmie, WA; nieces Kathryn (Brady) Bonser, Patricia and Elizabeth Prewitt, and great niece Addison Bonser. In remembrance, donations may be made to his favorite charities which include University of Puget Sound Women’s Basketball (pugetsound.edu/donate-logger-athletics), Washington State Cougar Athletic Fund (cougarathleticfund.com) or Wounded Warrior Project (support.woundedwarriorproject.org). A military graveside ceremony will be at 10:30 on Tuesday (12/14) at Sunset Hills Memorial Park, Bellevue with a Memorial Service following at 1:00 at Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church, Bellevue.
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