Mr. Rubin James

Mr. Rubin James, of Atlanta GA, passed on Saturday March 24, 2012. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Gregory B. Levett and Sons Inc. (404)241-5656. - CELEBRATION OF LIFE RUBEN R JAMES MSGT. Ruben Rudolph James (Ray) entered this life on June 22, 1928. He was born in Ben Hill (Fulton) Georgia, to the late Otis Lucious James and Lillie Mae Duncan. Ruben was the third son born to this union. Preceding him in death were his brothers Ralph, Otis Jr. and Joshua. On March 23, 2012, our beloved father, friend and family member was called home to be with his Heavenly Father. During his early years, Ruben attended Booker T. Washington High School. Upon graduation, Ruben entered into the Armed Forces. After a short stint in the US Army and an honorable discharge, Ruben made the decision to fulfill the code of honor, courage and commitment by pursuing a career in the United States Marine Corp. As a U.S. Marine, Ruben executed the "code of the core" with dignity, precision and perserverance. He proudly served and was, for 26 years "always faithful" (Semper Fidelis) as a United States Marine. While serving his country, Ruben often received orders to be stationed overseas in places such as Thailand, Okinawa and Hawaii. In September 1974, he retired with honors as a Master Sergeant . The license plate on Ruben's car reads "Not As Lean, Not As Mean, Yet Still A Marine" and this personifies the pride and dedication that Ruben maintained as a Marine. He was one of "The Few, The Proud, The Marines." As a family man, Ruben met and married (1954) the love of his life, the late Dorothy Dolores King.They were joined in holy matrimony on March 26, 1955 and were happily married for 49 years. To this committed union, Ruben and Dot were blessed with five children: Carmen Rubette, Donna Dolores, Angela Michelle, Ruben Rudolph II and Carolyn Yvonne. They were further blessed with four grandchildren that they loved beyond measure, Sidney and Corinne Jones (Carolyn) and Christopher and Jarvis-Michael (Angela and Jarvis). As a father, Ruben (Daddy) was a provider. He made sure that his children did not see or feel "struggle." The creature comforts of life he provided, and he did so silently yet with great strength and resolve. Family get-togethers (Christmas/ Thanksgiving/Birthdays) were all times that Ruben (Daddy) cherished. He was able to show his children, through his doing, what it meant to be a husband and father. Ruben (Daddy) took this task of husband and father very seriously. His hand was gentle and loving. His words were kind and encouraging. He was organized and made sure that his family was comfortable and wanting nothing. Advice he gave to his children because but his children knew that if they followed Daddy's advice, they would be just fine in life. In relation to business, Ruben was born with a very strong entrepreneurial spirit. Thus, after retirement, Ruben earned his associates degree in business, from Massey Business College, a cosmetology license from Georgia Beauty College and a real estate license from Atlanta Area Technical College. Ruben settled on a second career as a Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Precision Realty. Until the week of his passing, Ruben remained active and faithful to his Real Estate Colleagues at Century 21. Outside of his family, Ruben had another love - GOLF. For more than 50 years, Ruben played golf and enjoyed spending hours on the golf course with his many golf buddies. Throughout his golf career, Ruben received many accolades and trophies; which today fill the mantel at home. To say that golf was in his blood, may not be enough to express his dedication to this craft. The driving range and golf course were his second home, where he was always working to perfect his already close to perfect swing. Ruben often took his children to the golf course when they were younger, and with lots of patience and love, he continually directed them in the proper grip, stance and swing. Ruben would have been overjoyed to have had at least one of his children become a professional golfer. When his children chose different career paths, Ruben then took on the task of taking his grandchildren (Sidney, Chistopher, Jach and Corinne) to the golf course, in the hopes that one of them would love the game enough to follow in his footsteps. Again, he guided his grandchildren with the same patience and love that he so readily gave to his own children. Ruben introduced all of his grandchildren to the game of golf- thus his wishes for a professional golfer in the family may still be fulfilled. Until the day of his passing, Ruben enjoyed a regular golf day (Thursday) with his entourage of 25+ golf friends who remained staples in his life on and off the golf course. And although Thursday may have been the "dedicated" golf day, Ruben could be found golfing on almost any given day of the week during his retirement. Tournaments on television were the sounds that emanated throughout his home. Ruben (Daddy, Grandpa) spent many moments explaining the terms, "hole-in-one" "birdie" "par" and "eagle" to the eager and listening ears of his children, grandchildren and other youth that he sometimes took under his wing. In the final analysis, whatever you may have called him (Ruben, Daddy, Ray, Grandpa, Friend) Ruben lived a full life. Every moment of his life was filled with kind deeds, nice words, friendship and worldly travels. He was always in motion and always going somewhere. Ruben (Daddy) did not slumber, he maintained a youthful spirit and at 83 years of age his plan was to continue going. Ruben (Daddy) was not ready to slow down, and when asked "What are you doing today Daddy?" he would quickly say "What do you think I'm doing? "I'm going to work." So, even on his last earthly day, Daddy was fully dressed, and "going somewhere." The only thing that Ruben (Daddy) did not know was that time he was going to work with his Heavenly Father. So Daddy - it is now our time to say "see you later." We (Carmen, Donna, Ruben, Angela and Carolyn) know that you are happily explaining to someone the rules of Heaven and how to make it to that last "hole-in-one" in the sky. And for you Daddy, that's par for the course. Daddy, We love you very much! Semper Fidelis - Always Faithful

Tributes

Mr. Rubin James

June 28, 1928 - March 24, 2012