James Arthur Waddle

James Arthur Waddle, 82,  of Spring Hill, Kansas, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2024. 

James, known to most as “Jim,” was born on January 4, 1942, to Marie (Waits) and Claude “Hinton” Waddle in Casa Grande, Arizona, the second of their three children. Jim, his mother and siblings moved to Oroville, California, after the death of his father in 1953, and then to Pixley, California, in 1959. There, Jim’s mother met and married his step-father, Bill Langston, and Jim graduated high school and joined the workforce. As he started a family, Jim also started a drywall company which he owned and operated for 40 years. He and his family were active for many years at Clearlake Church of the Nazarene in Clearlake, California, where they lived until college and military service took his grown children in different directions. In 1995, Jim moved to Kansas and continued his drywall business there until retiring ten years later.

Jim was an avid amateur photographer and spent many years behind the lens at whatever sporting events his grandkids were engaged in. During his retirement, Jim enjoyed working in the wood shop, turning pieces on the lathe, tinkering with his 1941 “rat-rod,” and reading science fiction, mystery and historical literature. Jim loved a good laugh and collected funny t-shirts sure to bring a chuckle wherever he wore them. He leaves behind a legacy of laughter, love, artistry, creativity, and an accumulation of “someday” projects and “never know when I might need that” trinkets. 

Jim was preceded in death by his father, Claude “Hint” Waddle, and mother and stepfather Marie and Bill Langston. 

Jim is survived by son Kevin and his wife Nonna, son Sean and his wife Maureen, son Craig and his wife Suzy, and son Curt and his wife Beth; brother Claude Waddle, sister Mary Ann Rodgers and her husband John, sister Karen Wheeler and her husband David; step-brother William "Bill" T. Langston and his wife Patsy, and step-brother Gary Langston; a large treasure trove of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 2:00pm at Cherry Street Wesleyan Church, located at 933 N Cherry St, Ottawa, Kansas, 66067. 

Jim had a big heart and often gave of his time and resources in quiet ways. The family invites you to celebrate his life and memory by donating to his favorite non-profit, My Father’s House Community Services, at PO Box 452 Paola, Kansas, 66071. 

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