1SG James Wesley Wadsworth (Ret)

First Sergeant James (Tiny) Wesley Wadsworth (88), U.S. Army, Retired, passed away on Wednesday, March 13, after a 4-month-long ordeal resulting from a central spinal cord injury. Jim was born in Greensburg, PA (east of Pittsburgh), on June 6, 1935, to the late Irving Albert and Eva Lois Clinebell Wadsworth.

Jim was a big, rugged man who played football in high school. Upon graduating, he joined the US Army where he served 21 years until his retirement in 1974. He rose to the rank of First Sergeant and became a veteran of the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf Wars (post-retirement service). He also served in many international deployments, including Japan (where he was stationed three times), Germany, the Philippines, and Thailand. He also served in various posts in the United States, including Fort Bragg, NC, where he ultimately retired. After his retirement, he was self-employed in small home repair for 20 years.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife Toshiko Honda Wadsworth, to whom he was married for 62 years; their unborn infant; and his brother Walter (Pete) Irving Wadsworth.

He is survived by his daughter Nadine and her husband Philip Keutzer (Fuquay-Varina, NC); his grandchildren Taylor and Megan Wadsworth (Richmond, VA); and two sisters – Shirley Wadsworth Haubrich (Manor, PA) and Claudia Wadsworth Patchell (Altoona, PA), along with numerous nieces and nephews both in the US and Japan, and their children.

During his lifetime, Jim was active in several churches including Rockfish Church and Parker Methodist Church in Raeford and Camp Ground United Methodist Church and The Soul Filling Station in Fayetteville.

Jim was a hard-working man with many interests including the railroad, gardening, model building and construction. He built his shop and most of his home. He also desired to live on a farm and at one point acquired a pony, goat, chickens and rabbits for his kids, in addition to the requisite dogs and cats.

He loved his family and friends with an enormously big heart. He will be missed by all.

Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 AM, followed by services at 11:00 AM, on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at Rockfish Church, 9949 Fayetteville Road, Raeford, NC, 28376. Pastor Tony McVickers will officiate.

Interment will be at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery on March 26, 2024.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund or a tree may be planted in his honor. 

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