James R. Heffner (Jim), was born in Newton Catawba County North Carolina on December 12, 1933. He grew up there until at the age of 17 and a half, he got his mother to sign papers so that he could join the United States Navy. He made the Navy his career, serving 22 years and 2 days. During this time he married his wife of 66 and a half years when he was 18 and she was 17. Together they raised two sons, Ricky and David.They spent tours in California, Hawaii, Argentina Newfoundland, and ended up in Jacksonville Florida, where he retired. During his Navy career he received the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Medal, as well as numerous letters of accommodation and appreciation.
After retiring from the Navy he went to work at the Naval Air Rework Facility for 20 more years, where he retired as the Foreign Military Sales coordinator.
He had great passions for his career, his wife, and his two sons, as well as his two grandchildren. After the birth of his first grandchild, he became known by everyone in the neighborhood as Paw Paw. His other passions were for golf and the numerous dogs that he owned in his lifetime. The joke was he loved his dogs more than he loved anything else or anyone else.
He is survived by his oldest son Ricky (Chrissy), his granddaughter Kristie (Jay), his grandson Ricky Jr, his brother Kenneth (Sarah), His half sister Marcia Ann (Gikk), His half sister Johnnie, and half brother Steven. He was predeceased by his wife Louise, his mother Pauline, his youngest son David, his sister Brenda (Edward), and his half brother Alfred.
A visitation will be held Monday August 3, 2021 from 6-8pm at Hardage and Giddens Riverside Memorial, 7242 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville Florida 32205. A memorial service will be held at Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Road, Jacksonville Florida 32218.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgriversidefuneralhome.com for the Heffner family.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18