James Robert Paine

James Robert (Bob) Paine, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and dear friend, died at his home on Monday, November 19, 2018. He was 77 years old. Bob is survived by his wife, Pamela, his daughter Christine Ragland, his son Jim Paine, and his grandchildren: Cate Ragland, James Paine, Will Ragland, Charlotte Paine, Robert Ragland, and John Paine. He is also survived by his sister, Cathy Englett.

Bob was born on December 8, 1940, in Oconee County, Georgia near Athens, Georgia, to Vinnie Lee Tucker and Henry Ansley Paine. As a young boy, Bob and his older brother Jerry would walk through the tunnel below Sanford Stadium to watch the Georgia Bulldogs play from the street overlooking the stadium. At age 6, Bob and his family moved from Athens to Selma, Alabama, where he grew up with his parents, his brother Jerry, and his younger sisters Betsy and Cathy.

In Selma, Bob attended Parish High School where he met Coach Speed and was introduced to the game of basketball, a transformational moment in his life. Basketball taught him the importance of teamwork, discipline, drive, tenacity, and sportsmanship. He was honored as a High School All American Athlete in 1958. After graduating from high school in 1958, a basketball scholarship led Bob to the University of Alabama where he played low post for the Crimson Tide. Bob graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1963 and from the University of West Florida with a Master of Education in 1973. He later attended Louisiana State University and completed its Executive Leadership Program.

After graduating from the University of Alabama, Bob began coaching high school football and basketball in Stark, Florida. After a couple of years there, he moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida where he served as head basketball coach at Choctawhatchee High School. While coaching basketball at CHS, Bob met and, after a six week whirlwind romance, married Pamela June Fries, whom he often referred to as “the beautiful new French teacher.” They enjoyed a loving marriage of 52 years.

After the birth of their first child, Bob and Pam moved to Pensacola, Florida where Bob worked as Athletic Director of the YMCA. While there Bob initiated a “youth caravan” program that each year took a school bus load of young boys on a camping trip to Niagra Falls and Canada. After several years with the YMCA, Bob accepted a post with the Escambia County School System where he served as Administrator/Dean of Students.

When Bob left the school system, he began a career in lumber and wood product sales with MacMillan Bloedel in Gulfport, Mississippi. His sales career then led him to Atlanta, Georgia, to Camden, Alabama, and finally to Montgomery, Alabama where he moved from wood products to industrial paper products. Shortly after Weyerhauser acquired MacMillan Bloedel, Bob retired from a career that he enjoyed for almost 30 years. His last position with this company was as Manager of Export Sales. During his career with both lumber and paper products, Bob developed a number of key business relationships from which friendships lasted even into his retirement years. Those who knew him in the industry regarded him as a man of the highest professional and personal character.

Even while pursuing a successful business career, Bob always understood the importance of family and community. He made sure his family had opportunities to travel and he understood the importance of introducing his children to other countries, cultures, and ideas. When his children were young, Bob gave his time to leading the Methodist Youth Fellowship program, to coaching youth basketball, and to chaperoning various school events. He was active in his community whenever possible. He participated in the Economic Development Council for Wilcox County, Alabama, and led local fund-raising efforts for the Graddick and Hunt campaigns for Governor in Alabama.

Throughout his life, Bob remained a person of faith and, until limited by physical disability, was an active member in the United Methodist Church in the various communities where his family lived. He made sure that his children were raised and confirmed in the Methodist Church. He believed in God and prayer was an important part of his life. He was proud of the fact that his great- grandfather, Robert Paine, D.D., served as a circuit rider and later was a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Bob Paine was a generous and sensitive person who truly loved life. He loved people, sports, music, books, poetry, history, travel, and laughter. A genuinely sociable person, Bob loved the holidays and being with friends and family. Nothing pleased him more than a house full of people having a good time and telling stories. He was an accomplished storyteller with an excellent memory. Bob was an organizer. Even in the last few years of his life, when he was physically limited, he looked forward to the “brown bag lunch bunch” convening at his house to share food, memories, stories, and laughter.

With all of this in mind, we can let Bob rest knowing that he will always be remembered by the many who loved him and that his soul will rest in peace.

The family extends their appreciation to the devoted individuals that helped care for Bob during the last few years of his life, many of whom became our friends, especially Milton Calhoun and Vanessa Simmons.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 11:00 am at the First United Methodist Church, 2416 W Cloverdale Park, Montgomery, Alabama. The family will receive visitors at the church prior to the service at 10:00 am.

With deep gratitude, the family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations be made in memory of Bob to:

. The American Heart Association (9154 East Chase Parkway, #366 Montgomery, AL 36117)

. The Montgomery Chamber Music Organization (P.O. Box 6454, Montgomery, AL 36106)

. The Montgomery Symphony Orchestra (507 Columbus St., Montgomery, AL 36104)