James Wright McLaughlin

A Celebration of Life will be held as soon as it is safe to gather again. McEwen Funeral Home at Sharon Memorial Park is handling arrangements.

Born November 15, 1935, he was the son of the late John T. and Maude Utley McLaughlin. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, John Bell McLaughlin, Isaac Grier McLaughlin, Brice Cochrane McLaughlin, and Edward Joe McLaughlin. He was also preceded in death by his son, Keith Thomas McLaughlin.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Lawson McLaughlin; daughter Robin Dale McLaughlin; grandson K.C. Norton; and a brother, Ralph Henry McLaughlin; along with a host of in-laws, nieces, and nephews, who cherish his memory. He also leaves behind a beloved and loyal family friend, Jim Springs.

Growing up on the McLaughlin Dairy Farm in Newell, NC, Jim spent his youth milking cows, putting up hay, and all the general work required of a farm boy. When he was old enough he joined the U.S. Army, where he served in the Honor Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. He guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and served as a pall bearer for military funerals there. It was a high distinction to be chosen for the Honor Guard at Arlington. Only soldiers of a certain stature and fine military comportment were chosen for this work.

During his service he met many dignitaries and once even interacted with Nikita Khrushchev as the Soviet Premier inspected the troops sent to greet him at the airport on his official state visit.

He met his wife, Shirley, while he was stationed in Washington, D.C. When his service was over he and Shirley married and moved to Greenville, SC, where he worked as a truck driver for a number of years.

He continued driving trucks after he and Shirley moved back to Newell, but left that trade to become an engineer for Southern Railroad. He rose to Chief Engineer and helped train the less experienced engineers. Ultimately Jim ran the Amtrak route from Charlotte north to D.C., and south to Atlanta. The southern route took him right through the heart of his homeplace of Newell, where the tracks ran about a hundred yards away from his house. He'd give an extra blow of the horn for his kids to hear when coming past the home, and then again when he crossed Rocky River Road across from the Newell Post Office.

Friends always knew when Jim was running the train because he loved to blast the horns when coming through his community. During his career on the trains he served as the president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers for several years. He retired from the railways in the early 1980s.

The three most important things in Jim's life were his family, his church, and his community. At Back Creek ARP he served as a Deacon and helped teach the Felos Bible Class. He always had a cheerful greeting for everyone he met, be it at church, the Newell Post Office, or in any of his service-driven activities. He was known for his hearty laughter and warm demeanor.

He served on the PTA at Robin and Keith's schools, Newell Elementary and J.T. Williams Jr. High, and at West Charlotte High School he volunteered with the Booster Club.

He was called “The Pumpkin King of Newell,” for a pumpkin patch he grew by his home at the corner of Newell-Hickory Grove Road, Old Concord Road and Orr Road. He donated the pumpkins for a fund-raiser for Newell Elementary School. He and his family were featured in a newspaper article about the pumpkin patch and took pride in that accomplishment.

In addition to raising pumpkins, he was known to keep a hobby cow or two in his backyard, and he grew a fine tomato. He also kept beautiful rose bushes and iris beds. He was always busy and loved to stay active whether at home or in community service.

Jim helped found and lead Boy Scout Troop 49 at Back Creek ARP, and with Shirley and others began the Charlotte Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

In the 1970s he installed an in-ground swimming pool in his backyard and his home became the Newell Country Club South, where his nieces and nephews and other kids would come to splash and play, when they were not in the pool at the Newell Country Club East, which was the Hodges Farm on Rocky River Road. He was a beloved uncle and like a second father to many of the kids who flocked to his home.

Jim suffered from dementia in his later years. After he and Shirley moved to Ft. Mill a few years ago, Jim's heart stayed in Newell. He was always trying to figure out a way to get home, or calling a niece and asking her to have his Mama come pick him up in Salisbury and bring him back to Newell.

His family is blessed to know that he is reunited with his son, his brothers, and his beloved mother in the afterlife. He can walk and run freely and is no longer confined to a mind and body that even in poor health could never fully contain him, as his spirit always shone through.

Memorials may be made to Back Creek ARP Church, 1821 Back Creek Church Rd, Charlotte, NC 28213.

**FLOWERS SHOULD BE DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO CHURCH**