Born on June 19, 1922 in Foreman, Arkansas to Lamar Hilburn and Era Vandiver Hilburn, James and family moved to Hawley, Texas where James spent his childhood. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1944 and served in World War II in the Pacific. He married Cleo Hilburn in 1947. They were married for 57 years until her death in 2004.
The family lived in Sierra Vista, Arizona for many years where James and Cleo, following their entrepreneurial spirit, owned several different businesses, among them a Firestone store, a clothing store, a furniture store, a gas station, and a fabric store. The most ambitious project they undertook was the construction and operation of the Village Inn Motel and Uncle Sam’s Restaurant. After many years in Arizona they returned to Texas, settling in Dallas and entering the real estate business.
It was well known that James could fix anything, figure out how everything worked, and he could build just about anything. He had every imaginable tool to undertake any task, and often did so. He was an accomplished ballroom dancer. His sense of humor served him well throughout his life and never left him, even in his final days.
In addition to his wife Cleo, James was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Bonnie Palmer and Jennie Marie Henderson as well as two brothers who died in childhood.
James is survived by his children, Sharon Davis (Paul,) James D. Hilburn (Patricia Alger), and Cheryl Williams (Don), his grandchildren, Erin Yahraus (Tony), Thomas Finney (Alicia), and Brad Williams (Kelsey), and his great grandchildren, James Finney and Victoria Finney.
During the last years of his life James lived with his youngest daughter, Cheryl and her husband Don and was blessed with in-home caregivers who provided loving and compassionate nurturing and companionship. Having never lost his sense of humor, he constantly joked with them and kept them laughing all the time, and never missed an opportunity to thank them for their care. They, and everyone who knew him, will miss him.
A Memorial Service will be at 3:00 pm on Friday, February 2, 2018 at Sparkman/Hillcrest Northwest Chapel, 7405 W. Northwest Hwy., Dallas, TX. The family will receive friends starting at 1:30 pm before the service. Memorials may be made to Scottish Rite Hospitals, 500 S Harwood St, Dallas, TX 75201 or VNA of Texas, 1600 Viceroy Dr #400, Dallas, TX 75235. Online condolences may be made at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com
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