James was born on October 9, 1956, in Fort Monmouth, NJ, to William and Annette Thorpe. He graduated from Brevard Community College with a degree in computer programming. He went to work for NASA where he worked on the shuttle program. Later, he did freelance consulting work.
James was an avid reader. He also greatly enjoyed playing Dungeons & Dragons and trading card games like Magic: The Gathering and Star Wars.
He is survived by his mother, Annette, brother Dennis and his wife Debbie, brothers William Jr. and Mark, and sister Diane Shearer and her husband Don. James also had many nephews and nieces.
