James V. Partridge

James V. Partridge, 71, of Naples, FL and Ashville, AL passed away peacefully 3/28/25 after a 3 month intense battle with bile duct cancer. He leaves behind his heartbroken wife of 45 years, Lori Dinova Partridge.

Surviving James is his mother in law Elsie Dinova, sister Judi (Joe) Groom, brother David (Sheree) Partridge, sister Cindy (Ray) LeGault, sister in law Judy (Steve) Payne, brother in law Ed (Agnes) Dinova and children Andrea Petersen and Andy Partridge.

He was predeceased by his parents Pat and Etta Partridge, father in law A. Edward Dinova, brother Doug “Boogie” Partridge and nephew Jacob Groom.

James was very close to his family, and he absolutely loved his 9 grandchildren Nathan, Erica, Shelby, Kaitlyn, Jessica, Daniel, Emma, Elizabeth and Anjellycka. He deeply loved his nieces and nephews John Paul, Susan, Jessica, Jodi, Derek, Dustin, Jody, Kevin, Nicky, Andy, Steven, Sarah, Jennifer, Jane and Jesse. Also surviving him are 15 great-grandchildren, extended family and a massive number of friends that became family.

He was known as James or Mr. James, but also a whole set of friends called him by the name “Hippie”.

He belonged to Destiny Church in Naples, FL and Grace Baptist Church in Gadsden, AL, he was a devoutly Saved Christian and not sure who came up with it but considered himself a BaptiCostal. Pastor Greg Bledsoe in AL and Pastor Greg Ball in FL were very important to him.

He was born in Eustis, FL on May 16th, 1953, and moved to Naples in 1968. He was lucky enough to know Naples before it became overpopulated. James graduated Naples High School in 1971.

Just before New Years in 1979 James met Lori while he was a bouncer at the Open Hearth Lounge in Naples. She fell in love with him right away along with his long blond hair and those bright blue eyes and they married Aug 9th, 1980.

In addition to working at the Open Hearth Lounge, he worked construction most of his life including building stairs and pouring tie beam on some of the older condos on the beach, framing houses, and all phases of swimming pool construction including building rock waterfalls and decks. James could do most anything, he built their current Naples house back in 1990, along with their original Alabama house until it was hit by a tornado and had to be rebuilt. He had stone crab traps, and he was a run season mullet fisherman until the net ban. He retired from Collier County as a school bus driver. He thought that would be a short term job to take a break from construction but ended up loving the kids and stayed for 8 years.

If James met you, you instantly became a lifelong friend and/or a member of his family. He helped at several outreaches over the years. He loved cooking for anyone, anytime, and anywhere.

He had many hobbies influenced by his friends. He raced in the Swamp Buggy Races starting with SnowPlow an old 4wd truck turned buggy, then after convincing a whole slew of people to help, built and raced No Bull. He also had All Bull, Bull It and a few others. They might not have been the fastest, but the Bull Horns made him stand out. He had several sand and mud drag rails that he raced in Ortona and in Naples. He raced a car at the Punta Gorda Speedway which caused a show when the carburetor caught fire. These were all great times enjoyed with many friends and family. He loved the outdoors and hunted, fished and camped all his life. Bad Luck Prairie, Turner River, and Big Cypress, were among his favorite places. Weekends in the woods with the deer dogs and hunting buggies, were looked forward to. Some of his favorite times with family and friends were getting muddy with the 4-wheelers, camping, catching lobster at Big Pine and any type of boating and fishing. He had multiple woods buggies and boats, and Lori stopped keeping track what was coming in and going out of the yard.

He was a GREAT man; he could kill a rattlesnake with a shovel, but He was tender hearted and cared deeply for his family and friends. To know him was to Love him and he loved you back.

A Celebration of his Life will be held Sat. April 12th, 1:00pm at the Destiny Church Tabernacle Barn 10610 Immokalee Rd, Naples, FL 34120. Casual Attire