GARTH ANDERSON JAMES

Garth A. James was born August 1, 1926 in the farming community of St. John, Idaho, the second son of David Woozley James and Lurline Anderson James. He received his early education in the public school of Malad, ID, enlisting in the Navy during his senior year in high school during World War II. His Navy service reached the rank of Lieutenant j.g. in the Medical Service Corps.

He married Norma Miller on December 26, 1947. They were the parents of six sons, one daughter, and a foster daughter – and the grandparents of 47 grandchildren and 101 great grandchildren. Following Norma Miller’s death in 1996, he married Charlene Fay Kune Wisbey on February 15, 1997.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Zoology and Master of Science degree in Microbiology from Utah State University. He was on the research faculty of the University of California Berkeley, and the faculty of Utah State University. He received a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Nebraska and was on the faculty of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Dentistry for many years. He was founder of the Endodontics program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and served as the chairman of the Department of Endodontics and director of its graduate program. In addition, he served as president of the American Board of Endodontics, was a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, and a member of IKU (Dental Honorary Society). He is listed in the Dental Hall of Fame, and a member of Sigma Xi (Honorary Research Society). He has been listed in American Men of Science and Who’s Who in the Midwest.

He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and has served as Elders Quorum president, president of a Seventies Quorum, Stake Missionary, Temple Missionary, Bishop, Stake President, Patriarch and a counselor in the Presidency of the Chicago Temple.

At his death, he was serving as a sealer in the Provo Temple and as a Stake Patriarch. He is survived by his wife, Charlene, his sons and their wives: R. Brent (DeeNise) James of Sandy, UT; David G. (Ronda) James of Colorado Springs, CO; Dr. Fred M. (Reesa) James of Lincoln, NB; Dr. Richard N. (Marsha) James of Winfield, KS; Dr. J. Sydney (Susan) James of Las Vegas, NV; and Dr. N. Whitney (Cheryl) James of Farmington, NM; and by his daughter and her husband, E. Kristine (Steven D.) Harrop of St. George, UT, and by his foster daughter, Sandy Fry of Mt. Pleasant, UT.

Funeral services were held January 29, 2011 at the Rock Canyon LDS Chapel, Provo, UT. Interment was in the East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery.