Chester A. James III, age 82, of Orange, Texas, passed away on January 1, 2018, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Services, under the direction of Dorman Funeral Home, will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 10:00 AM, at Grace Point at Eagle Heights Church, in Orange, Texas; Pastor David Wagner officiating.  Immediately following, Rite of Committal and Interment will held at Autumn Oaks Memorial Park.  A visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, January 5, 2018, from 5:00-7:00 PM, at Dorman Funeral Home.

Chester was born on Monday, February 25, 1935, in Orange, Texas, to Lela Pearl (Depew) and Chester A. James, Jr.  He was married to Peggy (Henderson) on November 28, 1958, and started a family.

Chester was a devout Christian man and an active member of Community Church where he served as a board member, usher, and door greeter.  He also drove the school bus for Community Christian School.

He was PROUD to serve in the United States Marine Corps, from 1954 to 1958, in Okinawa, Japan, and South Korea.  He was a hard working man who worked for DuPont and Firestone, in Orange, Texas.  Chester moved to Beulah, North Dakota, and helped start up Dakota Gasification Plant.  He later moved to Dumas, Texas, where he worked and retired from Maxius Gas.

He loved living in North Dakota where he was able to hunt almost year around.  When he wasn’t hunting, he was refining his golf game.  He and Peggy moved to Dumas, Texas, where he discovered they had pheasant hunting and fell in love again.

Chester and Peggy moved back to Orange, Texas, in 1997, after retirement where they built a beautiful home and live today.  He enjoyed gardening and his fruit trees.

Preceding Chester in death are his parents and brothers, Baby Vernon and Vernon L. James.

Those who will miss him dearly are his wife of 59 years, Peggy James; son, Charles (Chuck) Allen James and wife, Hollye; grandchildren, Corye James and Brittni Ashworth, and husband, Aaron, active USMC; the newest member of the family, Great Grandson Jaxson Bailey Ashworth; Chester’s brother, Samuel L. James, retired USMC, and wife, Susan; sister-in-law, Betty James; Aunt, Geraldine Richardson and husband, Garland; and uncle, Vernon Flavius James, retired USN.

His Pride and Joy was his fur baby, little “Rosie”.

Honoring Chester as Pallbearers are Aaron Ashworth, Mike James, David Rainey, Scott Passmore, Keith Oswalt, Steve Oswalt, Kevin McCugh, and Chad Henderson; Honorary Pallbearers are Samuel L. James, Dale Henderson, Jim Stimac, Doug Venable, and Lovell Sullivan.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made on behalf of Chester James, III, to:

Pleasant Hill Children’s Home
P.O. Box 1177
Fairfield, TX 75840

 Service Information