James Lenwood Stringer, age 89, was born on January 15, 1924 in Vivian, West Virginia and passed away on Friday, April 5, 2013 at the VA Medical Center in Chillicothe, Ohio.
James was the son of Marvin Lee and Elsie Ethel Wyatt Stringer. He attended Gilbert High School in Gilbert, West Virginia, before enlisting in the Army Air Force at the age of 17. He was assigned to the 427th Bomb Squadron as an Aerial Photographer Gunner in World War II and participated in several missions before his plane, The Avenger, was shot down over The Netherlands on June 25, 1943. He and three others who survived the crash were captured by the Germans and became prisoners of War until April 1945.
James, known to some as Jim or Len, was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 64 years, Joy Lee (Sturgill) Stringer; brothers, Marvin Lee Stringer Jr., Cecil Ray Stringer and sister, Margaret Josephine Whitt Brown.
He is survived by his brother, Bobby Joe (Betsy) Stringer, of Ashland KY; sisters, Leatrice Joy Murphy, of Wheelersburg, Ohio and Eunice Evelyn (Harry) Mullins, of Rush, KY; children, Teresa Lynn (Chuck) Hampton, of Patriot, Ohio, John Keith Stringer (Mary), of Columbus, Ohio and Karen Sue (Gary) Jones, of Oak Hill, Ohio; grandchildren, Joshua D. Preston, Timothy G. Jones, Bethany J. Jones and Abby L. Jones; and great-grandson, Peyton T. Preston. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews as well as many friends and caregivers.
Lenwood grew up in West Virginia and joined the Army Air Force. When he returned, he married and began his life as a coal miner. After a severe accident in the mines he was able to recover and later became a bus driver for the Blue Ribbon Bus Lines in Ashland, KY. He later began working at the ARMCO Steel Company in Ashland as a crane operator. While he was employed there he purchased a small farm in the Oak Hill area and then later retired from ARMCO. He and Joy raised their family and continued to live on the Oak Hill farm.
A graveside service was to be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at the Moriah Cemetery in Oak Hill with Rev. Carson Hunt officiating. A military graveside service will be conducted by the Jackson DAV Chapter 45. Light refreshments will be served in the Moriah Teahouse following the service. Online condolences may be sent to www.lewisgillumfuneralhomes.com.