James Wilbur Spires

James W. Spires

James, who was known by all his friends as Jim, was born March 15, 1940 in Norfolk, Virginia to parents James W Spires and Frances Coleman. He is survived by his sister Joyce A Johnson (husband Johnny Johnson) and half-brother George F. Spires (wife Darleen).

Jim moved to California in 1948 with his mother and sister. He graduated from Chula Vista High School in 1958. He attended San Diego Junior College in the day time and worked at Rohr Aircraft in Chula Vista at night until enlisted in the Air Force, October 1960.

He was stationed in Nebraska till 1963 then was reassigned to Vietnam for one year. Then transferred to March Air Force Base in Riverside, California where he stayed until 1968. Upon discharge from the Air Force, he went to work at a dealership, and then worked at a local shipyard. From 1972 to 1997 he worked for the Federal Government at NAS North Island as a heavy duty mechanic where he retired after 25 years. He was married twice, first time for eight years to Diane Claire Edwards in 1962. Then in 1972 he was married a second time to Dorothy Mae Enyeart for 33 years, who he lost to breast cancer in 2004.

After retiring he enjoyed tinkering and fixing things. He also loved to go camping in the local mountains and beaches. His love for model trains and life-sized ones too, led to his making a complete model railroad display.

In 1963 his first daughter Teresa Marie was born. Then in 1965 his second daughter Allison Lee was born and in 1967 his son Matthew James was born. When he married Dorothy in 1972 he became a step-father to Shawn Patrick Finney and Shane Michael Finney.

He was preceded in death by his late wife Dorothy, both of his parents and step father and his mother and father in law in addition to his grandparents. He was also preceded in death by his first wife Diane who died earlier this year.

He is survived by his children Teresa Marie (Dave Wellford), Allison Lee (Michael Lyons), Matthew James Spires (Terry), Shawn Patrick Finney (Lori) and Shane Michael Finney (René Lincoln)

Grandchildren: Joe Daugherty (Holly), Nicolas Wellford, Christopher Wellford, Michael Lyons, Travis Lincoln, Peter Lyons, Kolton Burbery, Brooke Hill, Katharina Kollmar, Junior Valdez and Mark Lyons

Great Grandchildren: Benjamin Owen Daugherty and Vivian Hill