David Earl James is the beloved brother of my dear friend Gary Todd James.  I so enjoyed being around the two brothers.  I admired their brotherly bond and Dave’s kindness and gentleness, exceedingly evident  when I was with him (and Gary, too).  I truly am touched by Dave’s devotedness to animals – I did not know about this side of his personality – and I think that his photograph on this page projects his passionate fondness for “fur babies.”  God bless Dave’s soul and may he rest in peace.  

Dave was my carpool buddy and coworker at Naval Sea Systems Command Engineering, where we designed and managed ship and submarine systems.  Dave was a competent engineer, well spoken, good sense of humor and liked by all.  He liked to talk about fishing (in detail), gardening and was particularly proud of his family.  

Fair Winds and Following Seas

Greg Brown

Brother Dave is one of those rare & very kind people who love and sacrifice himself quite fully for others!  His Family, his Nation, his friends! 
Dave, Tito & I spent time dreaming of fishing & boating often.  We fulfilled a long time dream to take Orvis Fly-fishing lessons and then fish the Shenandoah.  We dreamed of going again many times. This picture was a great day fly fishing in the No. Fork of the Shenandoah!

David is my wonderful brother in law. David was my sister Carol Ann’s beloved husband and Father to Heather and David JR. And their fur babies🥰    He used to share so many funny stories  of their adventures.  David had a beautiful personality.  When I moved to NJ we made it a point to spend New Year’s eve together with Carol Ann and David spending the night away dancing at a local hotel with a beautiful buffet!
David will be  missed!

When I think of people who have made the biggest impact on my life, David’s name would come instantly to my remembering. David’s mom, Aunt Annabelle, and my mom, Betty, were sisters. David and I were born 31 days apart, making me 31 days older than he. I have many pictures, left to me by my mom, of David and I together as babies. Our families were tight, even though any Sunday dinner could erupt in some kind of spat between the sisters. Even through the spatting, you knew they had a deep love for each other and for their families and would do anything for each other. This is the family David grew up in. This is the family who helped to mold him in to the wonderful man he became. 
When my parents divorced, Aunt Annabelle took my mom and I in for a while. I always thought of David as a “big brother.” At no time was that more evident than when I was in my late teens and decided I was going to pick up everything and move to Virginia Beach. Well, Mom and Aunt Annabelle brought out the big guns and sent David after me. I never moved so he definitely had impact on me.
The years move on and we have a family and Dave has a family and we don’t see each other quite as often – if at all. I guess I would have to say that is the final impact Dave had on my life. I will never let that much time go on without checking in with the ones I love. 
I will miss your sense of humor (the only one who could make me belly laugh). I will miss your curiosity of unexplained phenomena and the stories that went with it and I will miss the tender heart you have for God’s four legged creatures. Yep – I will miss you – even though we hadn’t been in contact – you have always been in my heart. 
I send my deepest sympathies to Carol Ann, Heather, David and Gary.


Dave treasured his wife and children.  He  was great brother-in-law who was always there for our family.  He  respected everyone around him.  He  shared joy, happiness, and inspiration in our conversations. 
We shared two fishing trips floating on Virginia rivers with our friends which I will always cherish.



Dave and I met ironically back when were in 6th Grade.  When I try to take him down in a boyhood skirmish

But this was the beginning of a lifelong friendship which I shared many childhood memories that had endured into adulthood. 

I was honored to be his best man at his wedding and was absolutely devastating at his passing. 

Rest my good friend in heaven which assuredly you are there

Your lifelongfriend ,
Michael Ganley 



OBITUARY

David Earl James

September 29, 1951 – August 26, 2021

Demaine Funeral Home – Fairfax

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