James Ellis Person

Mr. James Ellis Person, 90, husband of Julia Ellen Person, and a resident of Suffolk, VA, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2014 at Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center in Portsmouth.Born in Southampton County, VA, he was a son of the late Walter Carroll Person and Elsie E. Person. James grew up in Southampton County, worked for Seaboard Railroad, and then trained as a bomber pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, attaining the rank of Second Lieutenant. After the war, James attended Duke University, graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1950. That same year, he began working at Ford Motor Company's Norfolk Assembly Plant, the beginning of a 30-year career at Ford. Accompanied by his beloved wife Ellen and their sons, James and Jeffrey, he spent 14 years of his automotive career living in Plymouth, Michigan and working in Dearborn and other nearby cities. James and Ellen retired in 1980 and returned to Tidewater Virginia, where they established and ran The Printing Center, in Portsmouth. He was an active member of Centenary United Methodist Church, Portsmouth, and an active supporter of Persons United Methodist Church, Drewryville, VA. An avid golfer, he was also a longtime member of Elizabeth Manor Golf and Country Club.James is survived by his wife of 60 years, Julia Ellen Person, of Suffolk, his sons James Ellis (Lista) Person Jr. and Jeffrey Van (Katherine) Person, as well as five grandchildren: David (Stephanie), Rebekah, Ashten, Kellen, and Tyler. Visitation will be held at Loving Funeral Home, 3225 Academy Avenue, Portsmouth, VA, on Tuesday, August 26, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted from Centenary United Methodist Church, Wednesday, August 27, at 11:00 a.m., with the Revs. John Cole II and Michael Baugham officiating. Interment will follow in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church, 3312 Cedar Lane, Portsmouth, VA 23703, or Persons United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 14121, Richmond, VA 23225, Attn. Mark Person, Treasurer.