James Francis Loving Obituary
Family patriarch of the Loving Family, James Francis Loving passed away on April 16, 2024.
James was born to Marjorie Bryant and Charles Loving on February 5, 1932, in Addison, Dallas, Texas. Jim’s parents divorced after his first birthday. James Francis was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents James and Fannie Bryant on a farm. During his early childhood, his paternal grandmother Mattie Loving-Jackson of Farmers Branch, Texas would take James Francis on the train from Texas to San Francisco, California to visit his father Charles Loving.
When James became a teenager, he was enrolled in the High School of Commerce in San Francisco, California, where he lived with his father. During summers, James would return to Farmers Branch and Addison, Texas to visit his mother and grandparents. During the summers, his first cousins, Johnnie Lou Nelson, and Thomas Coit (TJ) would join him on their grandparents’ farm. They formed an eternal bond that lasted throughout their lifetimes.
At the High School of Commerce, he attended classes with the future mayor of San Francisco and Casey Jones (future NBA Celtics). Jim ran track and played football. He formed lifelong friendships with LC Gage, (who became a barber in San Francisco and was the father of future San Francisco’s first Black fireman), and Walter Barnes, who became a Muni Bus Driver in San Francisco. He also played with his future brother-in-law Albert Walton, Jr.
James’ father Charles owned a restaurant in San Francisco, where James was the dishwasher after school.
Jim enrolled in the Army in 1951, attended boot camp training in Hawaii, and served in the Korean War for 2.5 years.
After the war, he worked as an orderly and traveled to Alaska to locate additional work.
By 1953 Jim married Helen Walton from Waco, Texas who lived in San Francisco with her widowed father and brother (Albert Walton, Jr.). In 1981, Jim and Helen divorced.
In 1955 James took the Civil Service Exam and secured a job with the US Postal Service as a Railway Mail Clerk traveling from San Francisco to Los Angeles. During the month of December 1955 Helen & James welcomed Karen Joy and Kim Paulette born in 1958.
Finding it difficult to make ends meet, James & Helen left the city and relocated to the San Joaquin Valley, where they eventually purchased the property on Washington Boulevard. James found and purchased a Quonset hut and built the inside to make it livable for him and his family.
In 1961 James, Helen, Karen, & Kim welcomed a son, Kipp Aaron followed by Kamala JoAnn born in July 1963.
In 1964, the railway mail service was phased out. Jim applied and was hired as a Postal Clerk, working as a Route Mail Carrier in Merced, California, and finished his career at Merced Color Press as a Postal Clerk in 1995 after 40 years of service.
In 1965 Jim & Helen built an additional home on the south end of the property and rented out the Quonset hut.
On the land, Jim & Helen planted almond trees (Nonpareil, Neplus, and Mission varieties) where he and his family worked. Jim plowed, irrigated, and knocked the almonds and his children raked them. They contracted with Blue Diamond Almonds for processing.
They also raised Registered German Shepherds, along with cows and hogs for slaughter.
Karen began kindergarten and first grades at Livingston Elementary and, for second through eighth grades, attended St. Jude’s Catholic School. Kim, Kipp, and Kamala joined her in elementary school. Although Helen & Jim were Methodist, they embraced St. Jude’s Catholic School system by volunteering in various roles. They cooked for the children’s monthly hot lunch and served on committees for fundraisers including the pancake breakfasts, and various dances, etc. Through these activities, Jim & Helen made lifelong friends with the Guerrero, Olsen, Brenton, Lochman, Garcia, Morris, and many other families.
Jim became a Livingston Lion in 1967, a commitment he embraced and loved until the end. He could be heard stating how much he loved being a Lion! During his tenure as a Lion, he served as Livingston Lion’s President, Zone Chair, Region Chair, Vice District Governor, and District Governor.
Other interests, Jim learned to fly and secured his pilot’s license on May 1, 1967. Because of his deep commitment to the Livingston Community, he volunteered as a fireman for the City of Livingston, was a football announcer at the Livingston High School games and was elected to serve on the Livingston School Board. He also loved fishing, golfing, cooking, and barbecuing.
Jim was an excellent cook and began catering for family and friends. Due to the popularity of his ribs that fell off the bone and his tasty BBQ sauce, Jim purchased a trailer for fairs and events and eventually opened Back Door Catering in downtown Livingston.
Unfortunately, in 1977 Jim was diagnosed with glaucoma and began losing his sight in 2008. By 2014, Jim was declared legally blind. He faced this challenge with grace, dignity, honor, and humor.
Jim became a mason in 2002 became a 33rd-degree Mason, Detroit, Michigan.
Jim traveled throughout his life and was introduced to hot air ballooning by his daughter Karen. He was a huge fan of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and crewed for the Grape Escape balloon. He took frequent road trips throughout the South with his old friend Walter Barnes.
Furthermore, he traveled as a courier to the Philippines and Hong Kong. He had a memorable trip with his daughter Kim when they visited Cambodia and Vietnam in 2005.
In 2007, he was inducted as the District Governor for 4-A1 while attending the International Lions Convention in Chicago, Ill.
Jim married Jill Jagger in 2008, and they traveled around the world in 3 weeks, attending the International Lions Convention in Bangkok, Thailand. Jim & Jill also traveled extensively to Italy and England to connect with Jill’s family.
As a veteran, one of the trips he was most proud of was being invited to attend the 2017 Veteran's Honor Flight to Washington, DC with his daughter Kamala. During the same year, Jim was honored as a Merced Country resident for 57 years!
In 2011, he began attending the annual Maine Men’s trip with his son-in-law Eddie, and brothers in Portland, Maine for a week of male bonding and enjoying fresh lobster. He continued this annual trip until 2022.
Jim was an active participant in the Livingston Centennial in 2022 and was interviewed as one of its lifetime residents (60 years+).
Jim and Jill traveled in the US and abroad on trips to the Panama Canal, England, Hawaii, and Italy. When traveling to visit family and attend various Lions Club functions, Jim always wore his Lions Pin everywhere he traveled.
This phrase joie de vivre, which means ‘Joy of Living’ in French, is how our father has been described to us since his passing.
All beloved James and leaves behind his legacy to cherish his memory, Jill, his loving wife; Karen (Eddie), Kim (Gerald), Kipp (Marcy), Kamala (Art); Grandchildren Nicholas, Nichole, Kyle (Kelley), Kayla (Ravi), Aaron (Karen), Kyron; Great-Grandchildren Davian, Delaney, Kallen, Great grandchild (son) #4 due September 2024, his daughter-niece Pam (Larry), Yong Tanti, and a host family and friends.
In the Afterlife, our Father continues serving and giving.
He donated his body to science through Science Care (sciencecare.com).
There will not be an Interment or Funeral Services however, he will be honored with a gravestone at Santa Nella Veterans Cemetery.
Instead of flowers, please consider a donation to:
Livingston Lions In-Sight Program - Used Eyeglasses
Livingston Lions Little Library's - Children's Books
Lions Foundation – California Lions Camp Board – Assisting Children with Disabilities – James F. Loving Annual Scholarship
