James David Barron

A ceremony celebrating his life will be 10:00 AM, Saturday, August 9, 2014 at Rhoton Funeral Home 1511 S. I-35E, Carrollton, Texas 75006.

Inurnment will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, August 11, 2014 at DFW National Cemetery 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas Texas 75211.

Jim was born in Somerville, Massachusetts on May 31, 1928. His life had a tragic beginning, losing his father before he reached the age of five. He attended The Henry Ford School for Boys in Sudbury, where he met the school founder, industrialist Henry Ford. It was a meeting that left a positive impression upon him for his entire life. He went on to attend Ringe & Latin School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Like many of his time he eagerly pursued a role in the war effort, overstating his age, he worked his way through the merchant marines and ultimately into 11th Airborn Division by war’s end. He continued his stay in the Army, serving in postwar Japan and in the Korean War. He remained in Japan after his service with the Army ended. He married Tetsuko “Terry” Kitani in 1955. Returning to the U.S. in 1961, he built a career in the metallurgy products industry. Despite the hardship of living his life without his father, he lived an exemplary life committed to his family and community service.

In 1995, Jim and Terry moved to Carrollton to be close to their son, David, and his family. In the nearly twenty years, he has been a part of this community, Jim has accomplished much. He served as a member of the committee for the Denton County Veterans Memorial. His own service in WWII and Korea are commemorated there along with numerous others who have served in the military. He was passionate about recognizing the sacrifice of these men and women. He spent every Sunday at the DFW airport greeting the troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Many who passed this way will remember the gentle old hero with his black vest adorned with military and community insignias from the many who recognized this outstanding effort. His effort was tireless. You would find him selling those iconic red poppies for the Carrollton VFW Post, raising money for the USO and other worthy causes. His causes would include the Fisher House to host family members of vets, while they waited for “their” hero recovering in a VA hospital. His causes also ran deep into the community, fund raising for St. Judes and other organizations. In life he was honored by many in the community. This included an honorary membership in the Denton County Southern Cruisers, a motorcycle club. It was a membership he valued as much as those he had with the Elks and the Vets. But, above all, he loved his membership in the vibrant senior citizen community of Carrollton. He was proud to a part of the community around him. Appropriately, he ended his life surrounded by the warm and loving wishes of so many who knew him.

Jim is preceded in death by his wife, Terry, passing from this life on June 27, 2010. Theirs was a long and loving marriage.

Jim is survived by his son Jim and his wife Pat; their children Katie and Megan; and son David and his wife Wendy; their children Allison and Valerie.

Memorials may be given to

Elks National Foundation, Inc.

2750 North Lakeview Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60614

Arrangements under the direction of Rhoton Funeral Home, Carrollton, TX.