KINGSTON, James (Jim)

James "Jim" Kingston 8/8/1921 - 5/8/2011 Jim believed that his life was richly blessed by his family, many friends, and by his opportunities to serve the community. Although he always claimed to be Irish, he was born in Nebraska and grew up in the small college town of Wayne where his father owned the ice house and Pabst beer distributorship. This infused him with a life-long love of corn, Nebraska football and Pabst Blue Ribbon (in moderation). Upon graduating from Wayne State College, he served in the Army Air Corps as a radio operator on a B-29. His crew successfully flew 35 missions and was able to fly their aircraft home at the end of the war. He married Shirley Hunter in 1946 and they began their life together teaching school in Coos Bay, Oregon. Jim left education and entered the banking business where he developed training programs for bank employees. Jim, Shirley and their young family moved to Tucson in 1958 where Jim worked as an officer with Southern Arizona Bank for many years before opening his own business, Kingston Financial Placement. After Shirley's death in 1998, he married Wilma Johnson and they were blessed in a happy marriage. He deeply believed in community service and was a founding member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. He also was very much involved with Tucson Metropolitan Ministries and Catalina Rotary. He is survived by his wife, Wilma; four children, Jim Kingston, Robert Kingston, Karyn Ullery and Kathy Flaccus, as well as by his beloved nine grandchildren and two great- granddaughters. A celebration of his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at St. Paul's UMC, 8051 E. Broadway Blvd. The best way to honor Jim's memory is to go out and serve the community. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to TMM Family Services, 1550 N. Countary CLub Rd., 85716. Arrangements by HUDGEL'S SWAN FUNERAL HOME. Published in the Tucson Newspapers on May 12, 2011