James A Landmon

Services for James Albert Landmon, 102, of Colonel Robert L Howard State Veterans Home in Pell City, AL, formerly of Trussville, AL, will be held at Ridout's Trussville Chapel, 1500 Gadsden Highway, Birmingham, AL 35235 on Friday June 2, 2023. Visitation will be between 10 and 11am, with a service in the chapel immediately after, conducted by Pastor Paul Brasher of Central Baptist Church, Argo, AL. Graveside service to follow at Elmwood Cemetery, 600 Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Birmingham, AL 35211.

James Albert Landmon and his twin brother were born on December 8, 1920, on Hattie Ave in Homewood, Alabama, in a home that is still standing. His twin brother passed away a few days later. While a boy he delivered newspapers on a bicycle to help his family financially during the depression. He worked as a butcher later on and used the money he earned to build a room onto his family home for himself and his younger brother, Edward, to sleep in. He also bought the first car the family owned.

After Pearl Harbor was bombed, he enlisted in the United States Army, and was inducted at Ft McClellan, Alabama on June 5,1942. After basic training he was assigned to cut meat on a ship and work in the kitchen. Wanting to see action in the war, he was sent to India and later he volunteered for a group of men fighting to liberate the Burma Road, possibly as a replacement in "Merrill's Marauders". He loved to tell stories about killing man-eating tigers and cobras, but also saw more combat action than he had bargained for when he was dreaming of seeing action while working in the ship's kitchen. He also talked of the weeks of endless hunger and surviving on rice and bananas, to the point he never wanted to eat another banana the rest of his life. He also talked about how bad it was to go weeks without any mail from home and not knowing if his brother Edward was still alive while he served in the Air Force in Europe.

After the war he worked as a manager in building supplies and later went back to work as a market manager and butcher with Bruno's, Food World and later Winn Dixie. He continued to work part time in this field into his 80's.

Married four times, before the war to Ileen Gibbs. After the war he married Etta Lois Foster and had one son, James Allen "Al" Landmon. Later to Ruth Todd Sims and had one son, Michael Todd Landmon and helped to raise her son, Joe Allan Sims.

After Ruth passed away in 1995, he married Marie Gunter.

James enjoyed golf, reading his Bible, Alabama football, and spending time at the beach and lake. He loved animals and enjoyed telling jokes and stories, and was honored to speak to elementary school students about his jungle experiences during the war.

He was a member of Vann Valley Assembly of God Church in Trussville and later attended New Hope Baptist Church in Pell City.

James has lived at the Colonel Robert L Howard, State Veterans Home since shortly after it opened in 2012.

Preceded in death by his parents George W and Rose Landmon of Homewood, his brother Edward "Ed" Landmon of Vestavia Hills, his twin brother, and his wife Ruth Todd Sims Landmon.

James is survived by his sons, James Allen "Al" Landmon (Dorie) of Beacon Falls, CT; Michael Todd Landmon (Denise) of Trussville, AL and Joe Allan Sims (Dona) of Owens Cross Roads, AL,

Three grandsons; Chad Landmon, Jason Sims and Nathan Landmon, five granddaughters; Stacy Landmon Moher, Corry Landmon Overcash, Wendy Sims Jacobs, Betsy Sims Morgan and Melissa Harris, seventeen great grandchildren and

Sister Barbara Kacker of Hoover, AL.

The family would like to thank the staff at Colonel Robert L Howard State Veterans Home and especially the CNA's of Patriot Place, 2200 Hall and Dr Simon for their excellent care, concern and friendship.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutstrussvillechapel.com for the Landmon family.