James LaVon Erwin

James Lavon Erwin, 90, of Louisville passed away in Jasper, IN on Saturday November 12, 2022 Mr. Erwin was born in Louisville on July 31, 1932 to the late James Addis Erwin and Mary Alice Smith Erwin. He married Doris Ellen Ruth “Boots” Nally on November 22, 1952, and remarried her in Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on October 31, 1970. She preceded him in death on September 2, 2006.

Jim was a veteran of the Korean War. He joined the army at the young age of 16 on September 18, 1948, having lied about his age. He completed his basic training at Fort Lewis in Washington State, and spent close to two years in Foreign Service while stationed at Fort Richardson in Alaska. He received the Good Conduct Medal PAC AR 600-65 on September 18, 1951 and received an honorable discharge on April 26, 1952, at which time he held the rank of Corporal. He was extremely proud of his service, his flag, and his country. Upon discharge from the army, Jim went to work at Louisville Gas & Electric (LG&E), and retired from there as a foreman in Electric Service Distribution after 42 years. Jim was a member of Most Blessed Sacrament. He enjoyed hunting, playing poker, listening to music, drinking Dr. Pepper, and spending time with his family and friends. He was a benefactor of the NRA, American Legion, VFW, and several other organizations. Having moved to St. Charles Assisted Living in Jasper recently, he was truly enjoying meeting a lot of New friends, especially Jack and Mary Burch (also of Louisville), taking strolls around the campus, sitting in the courtyard, watching for deer outside his window, and attending a variety of activities. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two sons, Guy LaVon Erwin and Terry Ray Erwin in infancy; 8 sisters, Ada Palfreeman, Rhoda Napier, Viola Cambron, Alice Marie Erwin, Margaret Laverne Erwin, and Julia, Emma, and Lavinia Erwin in childhood; 4 brothers, Joseph “Almond” Smith, Herman Smith, Charles Erwin, and John Wesley Erwin in childhood. He leaves to cherish his memory, his daughters, Mary Ellen Gafford (Eddie) and Donna Kay Bryan (Anthony); three grandsons, Christopher Stanton, James Stanton, and Nicholas Stanton (Audrey Jones); sister-in-law Kathleen Erwin, and many nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Visitation will be held on Monday November 21, 2022 from 2-8 pm at the Southern Funeral Home of Arch L. Heady & Son, 3601 Taylor Blvd.. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday November 22, 2022 at 10 am at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 3509 Taylor Blvd. Interment with military honors will follow in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made to the American Diabetes Association, your local Veterans of Foreign Wars or American Legion in Jim’s name. Online condolences may be shared with the family at, www.archlheadysouthernfh.com.