James Thomas Voyles

James T. “Big Jim” Voyles, 79, of Old Salisbury Road, passed away Thursday, May 30, 2013, at Hinkle Hospice House. The funeral will be 3 p.m. Saturday, June 1, 2013, at Linwood United Methodist Church, where he was a member. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. prior to the service in the sanctuary. Mr. Voyles was born June 26, 1933, in Knoxville, TN, to Amos A. Voyles Sr. and Iva Mae Hunt Voyles, who preceded him in death, along with a son, James T. Voyles Jr. a daughter, Deborah Voyles; and a brother, Amos A. Voyles Jr. His first job was setting pins at the bowling alley when he was 10, followed by years at Queen Ann Candy factory. At age 18 he joined the U.S. Marines and served on the heavy cruiser Saint Paul in route to Korea. He served 19 months and 23 days in the war zone before being stationed at Camp Lejeune. Upon completion of his duty, he returned to the Chicago area where he worked at various steel mills, as a switchman for the Erie Railroad, Continental Grain Company in both Chicago and Kansas City, KS, and as an insurance salesman. He returned to North Carolina, and worked for a number of years in construction then became a correction officer at the Piedmont Correctional facility in Salisbury, from which he retired. He was a spirited person and liked to have fun. Surviving are his loving wife of 58 years, Betsy Palmer Voyles of the home; a daughter, Ann Crotts and husband, Danny; grandchildren, Tiffany Childers and Jessica Reynolds; great-grandchildren, Eva, Gabriel and Salem; brothers, Bob Voyles (Sue) of Lexington, Ralph Voyles (Verna) of Lake Village, In, Larry Voyles (Dottie) of Baccus MN, Billy Joe Voyles (Kathy) of Hebron, IN, Darrell Voyles of Lake Village, IN; sisters, Katie Moore of Demont, IN and Valerie Cromwell of Momence, IL; and 23 nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Linwood United Methodist Church, 4700 Old Linwood Road, Linwood, NC 27299; or Hospice of Davidson County, 200 Hospice Way, Lexington, NC 27292.