James Edward McNamara

Jim was born in Hastings, MN to Eva and Roy McNamara. He was the second of six sons raised primarily by their mother. At age 16 he joined the Army to serve his country and support his family back home. In 1947 he married his high school sweetheart, Oralee Keene, also of Hastings, MN. Jim fought in the Korean War and eventually retired as a Major after 24 years of service. He was honored with the bronze star and Korean Service medal with 3 bronze stars. While serving his country and raising his family, he attended classes and ultimately graduated from Carthage College in 1962 with a degree in Business Administration. After retirement from the Army in 1963, he moved to Garden Grove, CA with his family where he became a loan officer at Union Bank in Orange, CA for 8 years. In 1971, he went to work for The William Lyon company as Chief Financial Officer and eventually retired as Senior Vice President.

Retirement didn’t last long, he soon became involved in multiple charitable organizations including City of Hope, Boy Scouts of America, and Orangewood Children’s Foundation, where he was privileged to serve for 30 years on the Board of Directors. He was a dedicated donor and supporter of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart.

He was the loving husband of Oralee, father to Carol, Dianne, Jim, Janeen and Cindy, grandfather to Crista, Stacy, Matthew, Rusty, Todd, Amanda, Evan and Kelsey and great-grandfather to 10 children. Jim and Oralee spent years gallivanting around the globe serving in the Army and following where each of their children and grandchildren ventured.

Jim and the family ask that donations be made to the Orangewood Children’s Foundation (http://www.orangewoodfoundation.org/donate.asp) and/or Sisters of the Sacred Heart (http://sacredheartsisters.com) in lieu of flowers.

Services to be held Thursday, December 20th, 2012, at 10am at Christ our Savior Catholic Church, 2000 W. Alton Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92704 . Private military burial with full honors will be at Riverside National Cemetery.