James Stewart Hull

James Stewart Hull passed away on March 13, 2026, at the age of 88. He was born November 21, 1937, a son of the late Ernest S. Hull and Josephine Boudoine, in Pontiac, Michigan. He was their fourth child, following sisters, Doris and Gene and brother Kenneth. Jim and his siblings grew up in Commerce Township, MI.

Jim received a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University (MSU) in 1959 and entered the US Navy as an Underwater Demolition Officer and then proudly served as the Officer of the Deck as an Ensign on the USS Forrestal. During his 3 years of Service, he married MSU classmate, Linda (1937-1976), and welcomed a son, Arnold Stewart Hull (1960-2026). Both have preceded Jim in death.

Following his Honorable Discharge, Jim and his family returned to the Detroit area where he established a career producing hydraulics during the ‘70s and ‘80s in support of the manufacturing and automotive industries. He became the co-owner and CEO of Flint based Melvin Corp., which he rebranded as Automatic Hydraulic Systems. Jim had a work-hard, play-hard ethic. He spent much of his down-time having family BBQs and weekends in his northern Michigan cabin, walking in the woods and snowmobiling.

Widower since 1976, Jim then met Irene Bager in 1980 and after a 10-year courtship, they married in 1990. He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Irene Bager Hull, daughter-in-law, Lynn Hull of Waterford, MI, 3 stepsons and their families: Greg Bager (Arlene) of Largo, FL, Scott Bager (Shelley) of Lexington, SC, and Edmund Bager (Jill) of Midland, NC. Jim is preceded in death by stepson, Jeffrey Bager (1965-2019). Jim’s grandchildren are Eric Hull of Chicago, IL, Ashley Hull of New York, NY, Joshua Hawkes of Columbia, SC, Caleb Hawkes of Lexington, SC, Emma Marie Hawkes of Spartanburg, SC, Ian Bager of Clemson, SC and Aberdeen Bager of S. Pines, NC/Lexington, SC.

Jim lived a life full of enthusiastic pursuits with his extended family. His Navy experience instilled a penchant for the sea and travel. He became an avid power boater on Detroit’s Lake St. Clair which evolved into the challenge of sailing. Jim’s boat, Hull’s Gull, sailed all but Lake Superior in the Great Lakes. In 1988, he and Irene moved from their Michigan home in the most unique of ways – They lived aboard Hull’s Gull and sailed from the Great Lakes to Florida via the St. Lawerence Seaway and Atlantic seaboard.

Jim and Irene made Florida homes in Nettles Island, Jupiter and Stuart. They finally settled in Lexington, SC in 2022.

Jim obviously enjoyed traveling and drove his motor home from Florida to MSU homecomings and onward through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to the major national parks and Mexico. He also enjoyed motor cycling year-round in Florida.

Other interests included real-estate marketing, fishing, hosting cookouts and dinner parties, rescuing pets and spending time with his family. He was accomplished at home improvement projects, mechanical maintenance, and often would fix things whether they needed fixing or not.

All along his journey he was surrounded by friends and family. Jim’s wish was for everyone in their combined families to be able to enjoy a full life of work and fun. In that spirit, he always led by example.

Celebration of Life Service will be held 3:00 p.m., Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home - in Lexington, SC with Chaplin Charles Byrd officiating.