Jim was born on August 26, 1934 in Houtzdale, PA. After graduating high school, he moved to Levittown, PA. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1956 and served as a cryptographer in Frankfurt, Germany. He was honorably discharged and returned home in 1959 and gained employment at US Steel Fairless Works where he spent his entire career.
Upon returning from his military service, Jim started dating the love of his life, Harriett. They married in 1962 and shared 62 years of wedded bliss. They were truly a match made in Heaven.
Jim and Harriett were original Levittown homeowners and raised both their children, Kimberly and James, Jr., there.
Jim was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He and Harriett could regularly be seen in the stands of all of their grandchildren’s athletic events cheering them on and as such were also very close with their grandchildren’s friends.
Jim retired from US Steel in 1985, but held many other jobs in his life. He managed a small hardware store in Levittown for many years. He learned to repair televisions and VCRs, fixing hundreds for friends and neighbors. He was a volunteer firefighter at American Hose, Hook & Ladder No. 2 in Bristol, PA. He was also an auxiliary police officer in Bristol Borough. His mother-in-law would often tell Jim’s daughter, “When they made your father, they threw away the mold!”
Jim is predeceased by his parents, Eugene and Ruth, and 6 siblings. Jim is survived by his loving wife Harriett, his daughter Kimberly Cahill and her husband Dennis of Yardley, and his son Jim Jenkins and his wife Cindy, also of Yardley. He leaves behind 4 grandchildren: Kevin Cahill and his wife Alexis, Alex Jenkins and his wife Agata, Colleen Cahill (Poppop’s princess), and Austin Jenkins. Jim is also survived by his great-grandson Santino (Sonny) Cahill.
Visitation for family and friends will be held Tuesday, October 22, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM at James J. Dougherty Funeral Home, 2200 Trenton Road, Levittown, Pennsylvania 19056, with the funeral service to follow.
Burial with full military honors will take place at 1:00 PM at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Road, Newtown, Pennsylvania. Please be in line at the main office no later than 12:45 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Jim’s name to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) at https://www2.breakthrought1d.org/
