- Date Of Birth: July 19, 1921
- Date Of Death: April 15, 2022
- State: Indiana
On Good Friday, April 15, 2022, James Charles Erdie, 100, walked into eternity to join his Savior, Jesus Christ. He is now reunited with his loving wife, LaVonne Ruth (Smith) Erdie to whom he was united in marriage for 64 years. He is also met in Heaven by his oldest granddaughter, Laurie (Newton) Mansdorfer.
James was born at home in Berrysburg, West Virginia to John and Sarah Elizabeth (Hovey) Erdie in the summer of 1921. One of twelve children, they survived the Great Depression by growing a garden and living off the land.
James graduated from East Fairmont High School, in Fairmont, West Virginia where he was recently recognized as their Oldest Living Letterman at a home basketball game. James went to work for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, but when America was attacked at Pearl Harbor, he answered the call to fight for his country in the World War. After basic training, the Navy sent James to Electrical School at Purdue University where LaVonne captured his hat and his heart. He was then transferred to Oahu, Hawaii where he helped rebuild dry docks in Pearl Harbor. When the Navy transferred him to the East Coast for Officers Training School, LaVonne travelled there too and they were married in the fall of 1944. The rest of his Naval career was spent on a minesweeper in the Pacific where some of his life’s proudest moments occurred and he earned the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
After the war, Jim returned to work with the IBEW, and on his 100th birthday, was presented with his 80 year membership pin by Local 668. Alongside working as an electrician, Jim bought some land in Tippecanoe County and became a first generation farmer, partnering with his son, James O. Erdie, and grandson, Justin Erdie, for the rest of his life. He owned Erdie Agency Real Estate and sold farms, always dividing land in a way that ensured enough space to grow a garden to provide for a family.
During his later years, Jim most enjoyed sharing meals and stories (a century’s worth!) with his family, which was the most important thing to him.
During this time, his eldest daughter, Beverly Erdie, provided him with remarkable care and home cooked meals, much of what they grew and preserved from their garden.
James is survived by one sister, Jonnie Friend of Fairmont, West Virginia, his children Beverly Erdie, Betty (Ed) Newton, James O. (Shara) Erdie all of Lafayette, & Jacquelyne (George) Wing of Lufkin, TX; grandchildren Katherine (David) Hudgins, Megan (Troy) Castor, Karissa Erdie, Justin Erdie, all of Lafayette, and Kendra Wing of Lufkin, TX; fifteen Great Grandchildren, four Great-Great Grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins, who are all very special to him.
