Charles Gerald James, of Freeburg, was born on May 27, 1933, at Vienna, a son of Charles Walter and Hursel Louise (Feeler) James, and departed this life at 3:10 a.m., Thursday, November 12, 2015, at Westphalia Hills, Westphalia. Mr. James had attained the age of 82 years, 5 months and 16 days.

Mr. James was united in marriage on September 14, 1957, at Freeburg to Wilma Georgia Eisterhold and to this union six children were born. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles on May 6, 1994; his mother, Hursel on January 18, 2011; one nephew, John James and one brother-in-law, Dallas Ragan.

Mr. James was baptized in 1995 at the age of 62 and became a proud member of the Holy Family Catholic Church, Freeburg. He especially enjoyed volunteering his time working at the beer stand at the parish picnic which was right up his alley as he was one of the friendliest people around. He was a charter member of the Freeburg Lions Club, and a member of the Vienna-Bassett Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie No. 4340. Mr. James enjoyed boating on the Gasconade River, was an avid fisherman, a gardener, a coon hunter, a top notch barbquer, and fish fryer. He loved spending time with his family and in the last two years especially his great-grandchildren.

At the time of his marriage to Wilma they lived in St. Louis where he was employed at Curtis Manufacturing Company. In 1958 they moved to Vienna and worked on his Dad's farm for a year. In 1959 they moved to Freeburg when he started his employment with Quaker Window Products where he worked for forty plus years as an over-the-road truck driver traveling to nearly every state in the union. After he retired from Quaker he then became a part-time driver for Beck Motors and a part-time farmer until his health no longer permitted.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. James include: his wife, Wilma James of the home in Freeburg; three sons, Tim James, Vienna; Todd James and his wife, Kim, Rock City, Illinois and Terry James and wife, Lori, Jefferson City; three daughters, Janet Pointer and husband, Rocky, Belle; Joy James, Freeburg and Jeri Ragan and husband, Don, Florissant; one brother, John (Mick) James and his wife, Ellie, Vienna; one sister, Faye Ragan, Vienna; thirteen grandchildren, Paige (Pointer) Welschmeyer, Seth Backues, Jared Backues, Timmy James, Kyle Ragan, Kelly (Ragan) Ball, Kurt Ragan, Ashleigh (James) Simmons, Carver James, Georgia James, Olivia James, Carly James and Connor James; four great-grandchildren, Wayne Ball, Zoey Welschmeyer and twins, Cooper and Mason Simmons; and many other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held for Mr. James from 4 – 7 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m., Sunday, November 15, 2015 and visitation from 9 – 10 a.m., Monday, November 16, 2015 all at Holy Family Catholic Church, Freeburg.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Monday, November 16, 2015 at Holy Family Catholic Church, Freeburg, with the Rev. William D. Debo celebrating.

Interment will be in the James Community Cemetery, Vienna under the direction of the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested by the family to the Holy Family Home and School, Freeburg or to the James Community Cemetery, Vienna with envelopes available at the Church or the Vienna office of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.