James Homer Brinkley

November 7, 1941 – July 4, 2025

James Homer Brinkley (Jim), 83 yrs. old, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at his home on July 4, 2025. Jim was a native of Arizona being born at home in a rural part of Tempe, AZ, November 7, 1941. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Verdie Brinkley and brother, Wayne Brinkley. Survivors include his wife, Mary Ellen of 55 years, daughter, Marcy Brinkley-Gregor, sons, James M. Brinkley (Amanda), Brian P. Brinkley (Jennifer) and 9 grandchildren –Taylor and Max Gregor, Alexandra Griffith (Marcy), Jenna and Thomas Brinkley and Aiden Bilancetti (Jamey); Aiden, Jacob and Hannah Brinkley (Brian), his brother, Robert Brinkley (Susan) and sister Ollie Williams, 3 Nieces, 4 nephews and his beloved cats, Boots and Zelda.

Jim was a Veteran of the US Army where he served from 1967-1970. During that time, he spent a little over a year in Da Nang , Vietnam as a Radio/Communications Specialist. After the Vietnam Campaign, he was stationed at Fort Bliss, TX, where he met the love of his life in 1969. After his honorable discharge in February 1970, he moved back to Arizona and took Mary Ellen with him. They were married in April, 1970. After that, he became the General Manager of MUZAK, a division of KTAR. It wasn’t until October 1979 that his vision became a reality. He always wanted to be his own boss and decided at the time he didn’t want to work for the man anymore. So, with $3000 in hand, he started his own company, Voltar Communications, Inc. (VCI.) Jim was well known in Phoenix and soon thereafter, Voltar was growing. As the company continued to grow, Jim along with his partners, John Perez, Tom Lilley and Hector Diaz, grew the company to over 30 employees.

After Jim’s retirement in 2006, his favorite hobby was buying and restoring old “classic” cars and trucks. His most favorite possession was his 1965 Sunbeam Tiger. He certainly kept very busy with his projects until very recently. As some may know, he was notorious for “fixing” things even if they weren’t broken. In other words, “his”way!

Jim was a faithful husband, father and friend to so many people and will be terribly missed. He will always be remembered for his witty sense of humor, his out-of-the-box thinking, and his loving and caring personality. His legacy will surely live on and he is now in a better place.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 10:30am at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, 3450 W. Ray Rd. Chandler, AZ.

Private inurnment will be the following day, July 25, 2025, at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.

Family is requesting in lieu of flowers to consider making a donation to the AZ Friends for Life Animal Rescue, 952 W. Melody Ave., Gilbert, AZ 85233 or to www.AZfriends.org