James Richard Willoughby Sr., 84
On Aug. 30, 2013, a man that I saw as a hero came to rest. James Richard Willoughby Sr., was a hero. As his son I want the world to see what I experienced and learned. Jim as we know him was a person of morals and believed in being a provider for a family.
Jim was born to Ruth and Richard Willoughby of Bismarck, N.D., on Sept. 2 1928, Jim had three sisters and one brother — Pat, Eddie, Pearl and brother Richard.
In 1950 Jim was drafted to the Korean War, what he experienced we shall never know because Jim was not one to talk of the past or of the accomplishments he made. In 1956 he was released from the Army with an honorable discharge.
His glory came when he met a wonderful woman that later he married — Doris Fisher, with this he became the father of four very young girls that he called his own even though they were not of his flesh and blood. These girls were the center piece to him as Jim advanced in life, Jim started with the Bunker Hill Mine right out of the Army as a truck driver.
Over time Jim was able to secure a very good and reliable reputation as a person of drive and being honorable in the community. After all, his goal was to be a provider for his wife and four daughters. Over time he was able to advance in the ranks of the Bunker Hill Mine to mine foreman, when the mine closed Jim was able to retire with full benefits after almost 30 years with the company. His second love above family was the mine, he loved to go underground and being a part of what happens and making sure his crew was safe.
Jim’s other loves in life were the outdoors. He was a skilled fisherman on lakes and the ocean, he knew how to hunt in North Idaho and able to always fill his tags for elk and deer, in the winter he was on the go with snowmobiles. As his son, to me his greatest accomplishment was to educate on how to go through life and learn as you go along. And foremost to be a provider to your family and love your family equally.
James Richard Willoughby was a man that always did as he said and expected the same of others, as his son I have to say the world now has one less hero to look upon.