Elbert James (Jim) Rich was born February 22, 1934 near Deer, Arkansas and died May 1, 2024 in St. Louis County, Missouri. His parents were Sherman Bartley Rich and Grace Lorene (Shipp) Rich. His siblings were Helen Christine Darling (Henry), Elmer Eugene Rich (Jeannie) and Wanda Faye Thomas (Buck).
He married Patsy Rue Terry June 8, 1955, in Shamrock, Texas. Their daughter, Kim Kunetka Stiewert (Joe Boy) was born in Shamrock and died in 2019. Kim’s daughter Robyn Gordon lives in Texas with her husband Patrick and 2 sons.
He married Brenda Sue Warren July 31, 1962, at Parkburg Baptist Church near Jackson, Tennessee. Their sons, Jim (Greta) and Steve (Patty) were born in Midland, Texas.
After graduating from High School, Jim enlisted in the US Army in 1952 and served at Fort Bliss, Texas in the anti-aircraft artillery. After leaving the army to care for his parents, he worked many jobs in his 90 years, but his favorite was as a theatre manager. Over the years, he would refer to this as being his time in show business. He enjoyed working in theatres from Midland, Texas to Mayfield, Kentucky, many of them Hodge and Malco. His son Jim, Jr. remembers especially the time in Midland when the high winds would carry dropped money along the back fence lines and he would go collect it the next morning. Steve has fond memories of the playground at the Chief Drive-In. Jim also worked as a Warehouse Manager for a farm implement company for many years and as a technician in a water treatment plant.
He is survived by his sons, Elbert J. Rich Jr and Steven Lynn Rich and his granddaughter Robyn Gordon and her family.
SERVICES: Graveside service will be held at St. Paul Churchyard on Saturday, May 11, 2024, 10:00 a.m.
I am very saddened
That Jim passed. May he rest in peace with. Jesus and the angels. He was a wonderful man I’ll always remember him.
Thank you,
Steve
Unfortunately, I never had the privilege of meeting James, but I met his son, Jim, at the Rich Reunion years ago. I’m sure James, Jim, and Steve, are a lot like Sherman and Grace, raised with integrity, kindness, and nurtured with love. My father, Jesse Jones, often spoke highly of Sherman and their quality time they spent together. May their legacy live on! May God wrap your family in His loving arms, comfort and strengthen you, during this difficult time.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I met Daddy Jim when Jimmy and I married. He had a tongue in cheek type of humor that made you stop and think before you reacted. He like teasing people and keeping you on your toes. He loved challenging your beliefs, taking the opposition side and get you to defend your belief, sometime so you could see flaws in your arguments, sometimes to fine tune your understanding. Most of all, he loved his family, Brenda, Jim and Steve, and Patty and me as we were added to the family. May he rest in peace.