James Julian Otwell

James Otwell, “Jimmy” to all who knew him, was born on July 7, 1957, in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He was the eldest son of five boys born to Orville Otwell and Mary Lynn Murphy.

Jimmy spent his youth in Northern Virginia. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Fairfax County, Virginia and St. John’s Vianney for Seminary School in Richmond, Virginia before moving to Augusta, Georgia, where he graduated from Evans High School in 1975 and attended Augusta College and Northern Virginia Community College. He spent time in St. Croix where he opened a health spa, and Strasburg, Virginia, before settling in Stafford.

Jimmy loved being surrounded by God’s beauty. Whether it was on the beach alongside the ocean, camping, hiking the Grand Canyon, riding his motorcycle through the Blue Ridge Mountains, bicycling, or taking his dogs on their daily 3.2 mile walks, Jimmy could always be found in nature. One of his biggest accomplishments was completing the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, the country’s largest urban bike ride and 40-mile route through the five boroughs of New York City.

Jimmy was passionate about life! He loved his family, never knew a stranger, and saw the good in everyone. Passing just shy of their 20th wedding anniversary, he loved his wife, Debbie, whom he had known since childhood, their farm, antique cars, motorcycles, and his recently acquired vintage fire truck. He loved his country, loved fireworks, and loved to read. Above all, Jimmy loved the Lord! Jimmy’s strong Faith brings peace as we know he is now in Heaven with the Lord, and that we will see him again soon.

He is predeceased by his brother, Russell Otwell.

He is survived by his loving wife, Deborah Fontaine-Otwell; parents, Orville Otwell and Mary Lynn Murphy; children, Nate Fontaine (Lizzy), Jennifer Stehlin (Dan), Russell Otwell, Sean Otwell, Kelley Otwell (Maura Leonard) and Gwendolyn Otwell; brothers, John Otwell, Perry Otwell (Vallie), William Otwell (Sheila); grandchildren, Grace Fontaine, Kellen Cheeseman, and Austin Fontaine.

A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 11:00AM at St. Mary of the Annunciation Roman Catholic Church, 10306 Ladysmith Rd, Ladysmith, VA 22501. A Celebration of Life for Jimmy will be held Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 11:00AM at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, 1621 Emancipation Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 with a reception to follow. A committal service and burial will occur on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 2:30 PM at Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Road, Triangle, VA 22172.

Flowers may be sent to Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, 1621 Emancipation Hwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, or in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in James' memory may be made to Wounded Warrior Project.