ELKHART -- James Robert "Jim" Sawyer, 82, of Elkhart, died at 10:35 p.m. Friday (Feb. 19, 2010) in Elkhart General Hospital.

He was born Sept. 19, 1927, in Elkhart to Chester L. and Eva "Momo" (Hall) Sawyer. On Sept. 15, 1951, he married Mary E. Elliott in Elkhart.

She survives with one daughter, Ann D. Sawyer of Elkhart; one son, Thomas R. "Tom" (Dru) Sawyer of Elkhart; and one sister, Helen M. Warner of Elkhart.

One son, Steven Sawyer, preceded him in death.

Mr. Sawyer graduated from Elkhart High School in 1945 and served as a corporal in the U.S. Army in Korea as an MP. He worked at Miles Laboratories in the 1940s, then worked for the railroads in the Elkhart yards for more than 35 years. He was a member of Moose Lodge 599 and Castle (now Faith) United Methodist Church.

He bowled in several leagues at Rainbow Lanes and golfed at Old Orchard Golf Course, enjoyed playing pinochle and bingo, woodworking, making homemade root beer and wintering at Daytona Beach, Fla.

Friends may call Thursday from 11 a.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral service at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. The Rev. Larry Kurtz of Faith United Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola. Graveside military honors will be rendered by the U.S. Army Funeral Honor Guard and Elkhart DAV Chapter 19.

Memorials may be given to United Cancer Services of Elkhart County or the Humane Society of Elkhart County. Visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com to send online condolences.