James Donald Blessing

Jim was born May 5, 1942, in Johnson City, Tennessee, the son of Hugh and Mary Louise (McCrary) Blessing. He graduated from Bassett High School in Bassett, Virginia, where in 1959 he played for the Virginia state champion basketball team and was selected for Virginia High School All Regional, All District and All State teams. He went on to play at Walker Junior College.

He met his wife, the former Judy Smith, in high school. They began dating after he graduated and were married in February of 1964 in Bassett. During their 60 years of marriage, they lived in Texas, California, Japan, Virginia, Maryland, and Atlanta. During the Vietnam build-up in 1966, Jim and Judy decided he should join the Army as he had an opportunity to receive an Army Intelligence slot. He had an ear for languages and learned to speak both Vietnamese and Japanese. He did a one-year tour in Vietnam from 1967-1968 (during the Tet Offensive). He and his family were also stationed in Japan for three years in the 1970s.

Jim retired from the Army after 20 years as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 and received the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service. After his military retirement, he continued his career working in national security for several defense organizations, including the MITRE Corporation. While at MITRE, he received multiple awards, including the President’s award, MITRE’s highest honor. He retired from MITRE in 2009.

First and foremost, Jim was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was also a natural leader, highly principled, and a dedicated professional.

He was a lifelong lover of many sports, as a player, a coach, and a fan. He coached both his son and his daughter in youth basketball and later coached and refereed youth soccer teams. While living in Maryland, he installed a basketball goal in the backyard for his children and continued to shoot hoops with them (although shooting contests inevitably ended with Jim winning). He was always willing to do anything for his family, including erecting goals, bouncy houses, and play areas whenever family or grandchildren came to visit.

He enjoyed photography, and he loved animals. He was known to feed the ducks that lived in the lake behind his longtime Maryland house, and they returned his affection by following him whenever he was outside (including when he was mowing the grass.) For decades Jim was an active member of the Main Post Chapel, Fort Meade, Maryland, serving as an usher, singing in the choir and chairing the chapel’s 80th anniversary celebration. He and Judy volunteered as youth group co-leaders. He also volunteered for many years with two charities in Anne Arundel County, Maryland: the Back to School Program that provides backpacks, school supplies, and food to students with limited means; and Sarah’s House, a supportive housing program offering emergency shelter and project-based housing to families experiencing homelessness. Jim also volunteered with the Main Post Chapel chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents. He leaves his wife of 60 years and eight months, Judy, of Atlanta; his daughter, Louise Blessing Huesken (Paul), of Atlanta; his son, James Steven Blessing (Rikke), of Carmel, California, and four grandchildren: Kate, Anna and Brady Huesken and Sebastian Blessing. He also leaves sisters Melissa Blessing Stephens (Marty) and Martha Blessing McVey (Jeff); Joan Blessing and many other family members throughout the South.

Jim’s family would like to thank the staff at the William Breman Jewish Home and Weinstein Hospice for taking wonderful care of him.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Dec. 14. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. with a service at 2 p.m. and a reception to follow at H.M. Patterson & Son - Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to a charity of your choice.