James Marple

Jim was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia to Genevieve and John Winston (J.W.) Marple. He graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1958 and went on to study math at West Virginia Wesleyan and then received his master’s degree from New Mexico Highlands University. He worked as an engineer and consultant for IBM, Contel, Systems and Software Consortium. He taught college classes at Jackson State CC and Lane College after his retirement.

Jim was married to his childhood sweetheart, Mary Ruth Van Devender from 1961 until her death in 1997. They had 2 daughters, LeeAnne, (married to Paul Marquardt) and Carole Lynn Puckett (married to Wiliam Norvill Puckett, Jr, deceased). He was living in the Washington, DC area at the time and attending Centerville United Methodist Church where he met Beverly Gail Brock. They married in 1999 and remained married until his death. They moved to Jackson, TN in 2008. They traveled extensively and enjoyed their life together.

They were members of First Presbyterian Church. Jim sang in the choir and Gail volunteered.

He is survived by his wife, children, 14 grandchildren and 7 great grands.

Jim Marple will be laid to rest at Fairfax Memorial Park in Virginia at a later date.