James Wesley Tysinger

Senator James Wesley Tysinger was born August 9, 1921 in Greensboro, NC to Lula Grey Mitchell and Robah Burton Tysinger. He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Joann Freiborg Tysinger.  Jim was a graduate of Georgia Tech, where he received a BS in Electrical Engineering and a MS of Industrial Management. After graduation, he worked for Shell Oil and Westinghouse Corporation until his retirement. A veteran of WWII, he served in four campaigns; Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Leyte and Luzon. He was a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, served in the U.S. Army Reserve and retired as a Lt. Colonel. He was a member of the VFW 10822 Dunwoody-Sandy Springs Post, N. Dekalb-Dunwoody Kiwanis Club, Chairman of the Atlanta Union Mission, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Erskine College, ordained Elder in the Presbyterian Church, Board of the Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Tech Alumni Association, Member, Alexander-Tharpe Fund and Georgia Tech Research Institute. He served in the Georgia State Senate for 30 years and was respected on both sides of the aisle. He was the founder of the North Dekalb Breakfast Forum, which was recently named the Senator Jim Tysinger Breakfast Forum. He is survived by his wife, Loretta Curl Tysinger, daughters, Joan W. Tysinger, Atlanta, Janet R. Siemens (John), Belleville, IL, Judge Meg T. Hartin of Marietta, step-son, Dr. Young W. Smith (Janet) of Lexington, KY, stepdaughter, Rebecca J. Frey (Steve), Newnan,  grandchildren;  Michael Siemens(Kari), Katherine Siemens (fiance’ Matt),  Jeff Hartin, Caroline Hartin, Harper Smith, Wesley and Edward Frey, great-grandchild, Elizabeth Siemens and brother, Burton Grey Tysinger. A memorial service will be held Sunday, February 24th at 3pm at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody, GA with a reception immediately following. The family will receive friends Saturday, February 23rd from 4pm to 7pm at H.M. Patterson & Son, Oglethorpe Hill, 4550 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, GA. Burial to follow at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.   In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church, Atlanta Union Mission, or the Georgia Tech Foundation.