James Ivan Meredith

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ann Simpson Meredith; one son, James Meredith Jr. (Ruby); and one daughter, Susan Meredith Filippini (Larry); and predeceased by his son, Gary Allen Meredith. He also is survived by his grandchildren, Alexander Simpson Meredith, Lauren Kathleen Meredith, Meredith Jane Filippini, and Margaret Ames Filippini.

Mr. Meredith was a graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He served in the US Army after graduation as a Field Artillery Officer with the 22nd Arty 1st AD and the 81st Infantry Division. Following his service in the army he began his long career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers serving a total of thirty-five years. He retired in 1989 as the Assistant Chief of Operations, Mobile District. He was honored by his induction into the Gallery of Distinguished Retired Corps of Employees. He also served as Chairman of the Mobile Section of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and was a Senior Life Member of the IEEE. It was in this capacity that he served as a national delegate in the 1983 Technical and Cultural Exchange with the People's Republic of China. He also was a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Alabama. He loved his work with the Boy Scouts while his sons were growing up serving as a Boy Scout leader of Troop 139. After retiring, Mr. Meredith worked with the Habitat for Humanity and the Sonshine Builders, building homes for the less fortunate. He was a long time volunteer for the American Red Cross Disaster Services. His Red Cross assignments carried him throughout the nation to well over 150 major disasters and earned him the JC Penny Golden Rule Award awarded by President Bill Clinton. He truly believed that "Help Cannot Wait" whether it be on a big scale or helping friends on a small scale. In recent years he was active in the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Mr. Meredith will be remembered as a good citizen who served his community well.

The family will receive friends on Monday, July 9, 2012 from 5 P.M. until 8 P.M. at Radney Funeral Home, Dauphin Street. Graveside services will be held in Birmingham, AL on Wednesday morning, July 11, 2012 at 11 A.M. at Forest Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the American Red Cross or Volunteers of America.