Donna Louise Abbey
Richard Burton James was born May 5, 1921, in Garnet Mesa Pct., Delta Co., CO, and died December 8, 1996, at Kaiser Hospital, San Diego, San Diego Co., CA, at age 75. Buried in Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, San Diego Co., CA. He is the son of Oliver Melville James of Callaway, Custer Co., NE, and Hester Jane Chambers of New Cambria, Macon Co., MO.
Donna Louise Abbey was born June 28, 1921, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND, and died March 3, 2000, in Sharp Memorial Hospital, Community of Kearny Mesa, San Diego, San Diego Co., CA, at age 78. Buried in Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, San Diego Co., CA. She is the daughter of Charles Gilby Abbey of Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND, and Pearl Georgina Peoples of Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND.
Richard Burton James and Donna Louise Abbey were married November 28, 1947, at Brooklyn Heights Presbyterian Church, Chula Vista, San Diego Co., CA.
Richard Burton James and Donna Louise (Abbey) James had four children:
TIMELINE
Oliver Melville James and Hester Jane (Chambers) James are buried in Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, San Diego Co., CA. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this image available.
Richard Burton James and Donna Louise (Abbey) James are buried in Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, San Diego Co., CA. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this image available.
Richard Burton James was b
Donna Louise Abbey was born June 28, 1921, in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND.
The 1925 North Dakota State Census taken on April 1, 1925, shows Charles Abbey (age 37) is living in Gilby, Grand Forks Co., ND. Living with him are: Pearl Abbey (age 34); Merl Abbey (age 6); Donna Abbey (age 3); Samuel Abbey (age 1); Milton Peoples (age 29); John Wansink (age 27); and Gilbert McAlters (age 51).
The 1930 U. S. Census taken on April 10, 1930, shows Oliver M. James (age 43) born in Nebraska to Indiana and Illinois-born parents, and first married at age 24, is a married Commercial Company Laborer, and who rents his home for $20/month, and is living at 1225 3rd Avenue, National City, San Diego Co., CA. Living with him are: his wife, Hester James (age 35) born in Missouri to Missouri and Wales-born parents, and first married at age 17, a Servant with a Private Family; his unmarried daughter, Amy James (age 18) born in Colorado to Nebraska and Missouri-born parents, a Sorter at a Lemon Packing Company; his unmarried son, Melville James (age 16) born in Colorado to Nebraska and Missouri-born parents, a Farm Laborer; his son, Lloyd James (age 14) born in Colorado to Nebraska and Missouri-born parents; his daughter, Selma James (age 11) born in Colorado to Nebraska and Missouri-born parents; and his son, Richard James (age 9) born in Colorado to Nebraska and Missouri-born parents.
The 1930 U. S. Census taken on April 10, 1930, shows Charles Abbey (age 42) born in North Dakota to English Canada and England-born parents, and first married at age 30, is a married General Farm Farmer, and who rents his home, and is living in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND. Living with him are: his wife, Georgina Abbey (age 39) born in North Dakota to English Canada-born parents, and first married at age 27; his daughter, Merle Abbey (age 11) born in North Dakota to North Dakota-born parents; his son, Kenneth Abbey (age 10) born in North Dakota to North Dakota-born parents; his daughter, Donna Abbey (age 8) born in North Dakota to North Dakota-born parents; his son, Sammy Abbey (age 5) born in North Dakota to North Dakota-born parents; and his son, Charles Abbey (age 1-6/12) born in North Dakota to North Dakota-born parents.
The 1940 U. S. Census taken on April 10, 1940, shows Amy Reason (age 28) born in Colorado, and 5 years ago was living in Sunnyside, San Diego Co., CA, and with 3 years of High School, is a divorced Seamstress for the W. P. A., and who is renting her home for $25/month, and is living at 105 Madison, City of Chula Vista, San Diego Co., CA. Living with her are: her daughter, Alice R. Reason (age 2) born in California; her married sister, Marjorie McCarty (age 21) born in Colorado, and 5 years ago was living in Sunnyside, San Diego Co., CA, and with 1 year of High School; and her unmarried brother, Richard James (age 18) born in Colorado, and 5 years ago was living in Sunnyside, San Diego Co., CA, and with 3 years of High School.
The 1940 U. S. Census taken on April 16, 1940, shows Charles Abbey (age 52) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same House, and with 2 years of High School, is a Farmer of his Own Farm who is renting his home for $5/month, and is living in Gilby Twp., Grand Forks Co., ND. Living with him are: his wife Pearl Abbey (age 49) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same House, and with 2 years of High School; his unmarried son, Kenneth Abbey (age 20) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same House, and with 4 years of High School, Farm Laborer by Month; his unmarried daughter, Donna Abbey (age 18) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same House, and with 4 years of High School; his unmarried son, Samuel Abbey (age 15) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same House, and with 1 year of High School; and his unmarried son, Charles Abbey Jr. (age 12) born in North Dakota, and 5 years ago was living in the Same House, and with 5 years of School.
BROTHER ATTENDS SISTER
Kenneth Abbey gave his sister in marriage. She wore a white satin and net dress and a fingertip veil of tulle caught in a braided coronet of white satin. Her bouquet was of American Beauty roses. Mrs. Clyde Burkhart, college friend of the bride from North Dakota, attended her, wearing a light blue crepe dress trimmed with net. Her bouquet was of pink chrysanthemums and white carnations and she wore the same flowers in her hair. Albert Anderson served as best man.
RECEPTION HELD
A reception for 40 guests in the church parlors followed the ceremony. Mrs. James received in a turquoise gown accented with a gardenia corsage and black accessories. Assisting at the reception were Mrs. Hannah Benson, Miss Mary June Lothberg, Mrs. Burkhart and Mrs. Albert Anderson. The newlyweds are honeymooning in Pam Springs and on their return will be at home to friends at 4668 Felton St. The bride's traveling suit was of light blue wool crepe with navy accessories. The former Miss Abbey is a graduate of Mayville State Teachers College in North Dakota, and she also attended San Diego State College. Mr. James, a graduate of Sweetwater High School, served in the Air Corps during the war and is now with the City Civil Service.
Mrs. Richard James was Miss Donna Abbey before her marriage last evening. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Abbey, of Gilby, N. D., and Mrs. James is the son of Mr. and Mrs. O. M. James, of Chula Vista.
Oliver Melville James died August 7, 1960, in Chula Vista, San Diego Co., CA, at age 73. Buried in Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, San Diego Co., CA.
Deaths - Funerals
JAMES - Oliver. Husband of Hester James. Father of Melville, Lloyd and Richard James, Aimie Hagar, Selma McCarty. Services Wed. 10 a.m. at the Community Church, Chula Vista. Hubbard Mortuary.
Randall Gilby "Randy" James and Rita Lynn Baker were married July 12, 1975, in Presidio Park, San Diego, San Diego Co., CA.
Miss Rita Lynn Baker, daughter of Gerald R. Baker and Mrs. Verbena Saunders, both of Lakeside, and Randall Gilby James, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. James of La Mesa, were married July 12 in Presidio Park. The couple attends Grossmont College.
Hester Jane (Chambers) James died July 21, 1976, in La Mesa, San Diego Co., CA, at age 82. Buried in Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, San Diego Co., CA.
Richard Burton James died December 8, 1996, at Kaiser Hospital, San Diego, San Diego Co., CA, at age 75. Buried in Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, San Diego Co., CA.
When his kids were little, Richard B. James didn't talk much about his experiences as an Army Air Corps bomber in World War II. Only as adults did his sons learn their dad was a decorated B-24 crewman who helped belly-land his shot-up plane after everyone else but the pilot had bailed out. Mr. James died of pneumonia Sunday at Kaiser Hospital. He was 75. Mr. James was a La Mesa resident and lived in the county since 1929. He was born May 5, 1921, in Delta, Colo. Growing up with a love of airplanes, he joined the Army Air Corps in 1941 and was assigned to the 15th Air Force, 459th Bomb Group, 757th Squadron in Foggia, Italy. A tech sergeant working alternately as a B-24 flight navigator, aerial gunner or bombardier, Mr. James was awarded a distinguished service medal after many harrowing missions in the Baltic area. On one, over Austria in 1944, he barely made it back. He was a supervisor at the North Island naval base, retiring in the mid-1970s. He was a member of the Lake Murray Congregational Church, which later became the United Church of Christ of La Mesa. Services are scheduled for 5 p.m. today at the La Mesa church, 5940 Kelton Ave. In addition to his son Randy, Mr. James is survived by his wife, Donna, of La Mesa; sons Kerry, of San Diego, and Danny, of Casa Grande, Ariz.; a daughter, Colleen Link, of Lakeside; and seven grandchildren. The family suggests donations in Mr. James' memory to the George G. Glenner Alzheimer's Family Center, 3686 Fourth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103.
Donna Louise (Abbey) James died March 3, 2000, in Sharp Memorial Hospital, Kearny Mesa, San Diego, San Diego Co., CA, at age 78. Buried in Glen Abbey Memorial Park, Bonita, San Diego Co., CA.
As a specialist in early-childhood education, Donna James didn't confine her concern for kids to the classroom. In 1992, five years after retiring from Kate Sessions Elementary School in Pacific Beach, Mrs. James took clothing to distribute to needy children during visits to Madagascar and Africa. But there was one cultural barrier she had to surmount: Only village chiefs were authorized to perform such tasks. Thanks to an intermediary, the matter was resolved, and with the chief's permission Mrs. James gave out dresses, pants and shirts. Mrs. James, who taught for 30 years in the San Diego Unified School District, was fatally injured March 3 when she was hit by a pickup truck as she walked across Navajo Road in El Cajon. She was 78. A few hours after the accident, she died at Sharp Memorial Hospital in Kearny Mesa, said her son Kerry. El Cajon police are investigating the accident. Mrs. James began teaching in San Diego County shortly after World War II, during which she had worked as a dispatcher for Consolidated Vultee Aircraft, the forerunner of the Convair Division of General Dynamics. In 1963, after earning a bachelor's degree at San Diego State, she began a 24-year career at Kate Sessions. While at the Pacific Beach school, she earned a master's degree in early childhood education from Pepperdine University. In 1968, she began the extensive travels that were a highlight of her life. Her trips through the years took her to the British Isles, Greece, other nations in Europe, Africa, Madagascar and India. Mrs. James served as a mentor teacher during her career and was active in the San Diego and California teachers' associations and the American Association of University Women. For nearly a decade after retiring, she served as historian of United Church of Christ in La Mesa, where she was a charter member. Mrs. James was born in Gilby, N.D., where she grew up on her family's farm. She began teaching in public schools after graduating from high school. Familiar with San Diego from a childhood visit, Mrs. James returned during World War II to work in the administration office of Consolidated Vultee, which manufactured B-24s. Although she did not know it at the time, her future husband, Richard, was assigned to a B-24 bomber crew in Italy. They married in 1947 and raised four children in La Mesa. After her husband's death in December 1996, Mrs. James moved to El Cajon. In 1992, she fulfilled a lifelong dream to tour India. On an Indian Ocean cruise, she visited the ports of Madagascar, the Maldives, the Seychelles and Zanzibar. She also toured African game parks. "At the time of her death she still desired to travel and had hopes of seeing the Mayan ruins in the Yucatan," Kerry James said. Survivors include a daughter, Colleen Link of Lakeside; three sons, Kerry, of San Diego, Richard, of Casa Grande, Ariz., and Randall, of El Cajon; three brothers, Kenneth Abbey of Los Angeles and Samuel and Orrin Abbey, both of Larimore, N.D.; seven grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. A memorial service is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Sunday at United Church of Christ, La Mesa. Donations to a children's literacy program of choice were suggested. Christ, La Mesa. Donations to a children's literacy program of choice were suggested.