James was born in Dayton, KY, on September 17, 1954 to the late Clifford Raymond Oliver and Jean May Lambert. He was also predeceased by his brother, Randy; and his sister, Brenda Theuring. Survivors include his step-mother, Doris Townsend; his brothers, Clifford, Osmond, Robert, and Daniel; his sisters, Sandra Whaley, Tyma Oliver, Karen LaVancha, Lorraine Franklin, Lisa Parmalee, and Theresa Tiffany; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews.
James was a 1972 graduate of Norwich High School and he then enlisted in the US Air Force, becoming a sergeant in the Military Police before his honorable discharge in 1976. James went to work for Simmonds Precision/BF Goodrich in Norwich in 1978. In 1996, he transferred to Fort Worth when Unison opened a factory there. James left Unison in 2005 and went to work at American Ironhorse Motorcycle, retiring in 2019.
A graveside service for James will take place this spring at Mt. Hope Cemetery.
