Mr. James A. “Jim” Hanes, Sr., 79, of Bristol (and formerly of Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania), passed away peacefully at Goshen General Hospital on Thursday, November 25, 2021 following a brief illness. On November 20, 1976 he married Kay L. Phillips, who passed away at home in Bristol on November 29, 2016, after 43 wonderful years together.
Jim was born in Allegany, New York on January 5, 1942 to the late John and Doris (Hyatt) Hanes and is survived by his son, James A. “Jimmy” (Heather) Hanes, Jr. of Bristol, as well as grandchildren Cooper, Hunter and Ella Mae Hanes. He is also survived by a host of extended family and Pennsylvania-based relatives, a long list of good friends, work buddies, and even a long list of shady characters including one local pastor that he kind of liked but he never saw him do anything except for fishing. A sister, Suzsebelle Williams, precedes James in death.
Jim will be having services both in Elkhart and in Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania. Billings Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Elkhart will host the Indiana services which will consist of a visitation on Monday, November 29, 2021 from 5-8 pm, followed by a funeral service on Tuesday November 30, 2021 at 11:00 am, officiated by Pastor Gary Sheets of the Middlebury Community Church of the Nazarene. Just prior to the service, a pass and review will be conducted by the Elkhart County Marine Corps League Detachment. Following the Elkhart service, Jim will be transported to the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, 118 S. Union Street, Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania for a visitation on Friday, December 3, 2021 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm followed by a funeral there on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 11:00 am, with burial at Maple Grove Cemetery in Shinglehouse with full USMC Military Honors.
Jim served honorably as a lance corporal in the United States Marine Corps; most notably during the Cuban Missile Crisis, where Jim spent many, many months at sea onboard one of the blockade ships. Following the military, Jim returned to the states where he landed a job in New Jersey in a mechanic shop. He also spent 35 years as a tool and die maker at the Dresser-Rand Corporation in New York, which later became Ingersoll-Rand. Jim always had a knack for working with his hands and making or fixing things, but his real love was with woodworking, of which he possessed great talent. It seemed that Jim could always be found in his workshop taking on some type of project, which usually consisted of him building something for someone. In one instance, he made a two-dimensional bas-relief of a basset hound, named it Toby and set him up next to the fireplace. Jim would often brag that Toby was the best “dog” he ever had. Low maintenance, too. He also liked to garden, and although he maintained a small strawberry patch at home, he really liked to help out with his son’s “big boy” garden in their back yard.
Jim loved and lived his life to the fullest and allowed that sentiment to touch everyone he met. He never knew a stranger, and simply loved to be able to help folks with things. He was especially appreciated at the Bristol Fire Department, where he helped build training equipment, installed all the coded door locks and basically made sure the station didn’t blow away while the gang was out saving lives. His philosophy in life was simple: help others whenever you can; be nice and it’s God’s job do the judging, not yours. He loved deer, eagles and bears, and enjoyed listening to old-school and bluegrass country.
Memorial donations may be given to the charity of one’s choice. Friends and relatives are encouraged to read the entire obit and leave condolences, memories and/or pictures of Jim by clicking “Tribute Wall” on his obituary page on the funeral home’s website and then following the prompts.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of James "Jim" A. Hanes, please visit our floral store.