James was born June 22, 1917 to Edith M. Minsterman and James Albert Root. He served in the US Army from 1944 to 1945 in Italy and North Africa. He served as a pioneer clearing mine fields and transporting ammunition. He acquired his pilots license in Elmira. James retired from Shephard Niles Crane and Hoist in Montour Falls, NY as manager of crane engineering after 43 years of service. James was a very brilliant person, and could still remember all of his school teachers. He was a jack of all trades- farmer, engineer, carpenter, cabinet maker, and electrician.
James is survived by; son Lawrence (Chiev) Root; daughters Carol (Phillip) Cuellar and Diane (Michael) Naar; grandchildren Linda Page, Randy Lyon, Christine Carter, Mayumi Auert, Phillip Cuellar, Alana Middleton, Spencer Naar, Avery Naar, and Mason Naar, Fourteen Great Grandchildren and One Great Great Grandchild; as well as Nieces and one Nephew. James was preceded in death by his spouse Wanda A. Holmes; daughter Nancy E. Lee; mother Edith Minsterman and father James Albert Root; and sisters Florence Henyan and Ethel Kuehn.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 10am to 11am on Saturday, June 16th at the Haughey Wood Funeral Home, 119 5th St., Watkins Glen, NY 14891. Interment will be at Montour Falls Cemetery.
