WYNNE, James Christian

James Christian Wynne, 75, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, in Yuma, AZ after a brief illness. He was born and raised in the Salinas Valley. His father, David Henry Wynne, was a Salinas native and his mother, Alida Nielsen Wynne, born in San Francisco, was brought up in Watsonville. Jim attended Sacred Heart School and Salinas High (Class of 1954; FFA, CSF, Student Council) prior to graduating from the University of California at Davis in 1958 (BS-General Agriculture, Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, Scabbard & Blade national honor society) followed by military service as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Reserves, Fort Benning, GA. His active duty completed, Jim and his former wife Nancy settled in Salinas where he joined his father's business, Dave Wynne Farms. Managing the company, he farmed in the Salinas Valley for the next 25 years. Locally, Jim was a member of the Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club, Grower-Shipper Association, Western Growers, and Elks Lodge. He resided in Yuma – where, until his death, he dealt in real estate, concentrating on agricultural properties. Jim is survived by his son, Bill (Mary) of Salinas and daughter Tracey Gilbert of Pine City, MN; granddaughters, Melissa and Kacie Wynne, Salinas; Destiny Gilbert, Pine City; brother, David Wynne, Salinas; cousins, Ellen Beach, Madera, and Patricia Nielsen, Embudo, NM. At Jim's request, no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial offerings be directed to the Foundation of Yuma Regional Medical Center or a charity of the donor's choice. Published in The Yuma Sun on January 10, 2012