James E. Webb
February 23, 1934 ~ November 7, 2017
Resided in:
Fairview, North Carolina
James E. Webb, 83, passed away Tuesday, November 7, 2017, following a lengthy illness at the Tucker Hospice House in Kannapolis, surrounded by his children.
Born in Asheville, Mr. Webb was a son of the late James Ernest and Nellie Creasman Webb. Jim was married for 61 years to Jeanne Bryan Webb, who died September 20 of this year. He was also preceded in death by siblings, Fred Baker and Sybil Baker Vess.
Mr. Webb was a 1952 graduate of Swannanoa High School and a 1956 graduate of NC State University. He married Jeanne Bryan in 1956, and they enjoyed his 33 year career with the US Forest Service, during which he and his family lived in many places across the country, including Montana and Alaska. Jim started his career as a Forester on the Croatan National Forest and retired as an Associate Deputy Chief of the US Forest Service in Washington, DC. Following his retirement from the Federal Government, he and Jeanne returned to the mountains they loved and grew up in.
His passion of trees and plants was evident throughout his daily life. He volunteered for many projects in the Asheville area, such as work on the Highway 74 Scenic Highway Beautification Project, landscaped the Fairview Library, worked on projects for Pisgah National Forest, and served as a board member at the NC Arboretum, and lead guided tree identification walks there.
Jim’s interests also included gardening, military history, sports, and hiking. He loved going on extended RV camping trips out west with his wife and family.
He is survived by daughters, Rebecca Webb Becker (Kurt) and Julia Webb Bradley (James); son, Paul Bryan Webb (Mary); grandchildren, Ryan Fitzgerald (Jamie), Ellie Fitzgerald, Signe Becker, Simone Becker, Sven Becker, Sarah Bradley, Jake Bradley, Bryan Bradley and Myah Webb; a great-granddaughter, Nella Fitzgerald; and a sister, Martha Webb Cochran.
A memorial service will be at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, November 12, in the Tunnel Road chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Sallyanne McVay officiating.
The family will greet friends at the funeral home immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The North Carolina Arboretum Society, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806.
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We will be sending a donation to the Arboretum in Memory of Jim. We can hardly believe how quickly everything has changed.
Becky, Julie and Paul,
Your parents were very special people. Please accept the thoughts and prayers of my family and share them with all your family.
Becky, Julie and Paul, what an honor and privilege it was to have known and worked with your Dad. Your Mom and Dad were amazing in their love and devotion for each other, their children, grand-children and great grand-child.
Please know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Always.
My sincere condolences to the family of Jim and Jeanne. My husband, Bill, who died August 15 this year, also volunteered at the N.C. Arboretum, so the two knew each other. We also greeted and talked to each other at volunteer events at the Arboretum.
Keep the good memories of your parents.
So sorry to hear about both Jeanne and Jim. They helped us find our home in Asheville and were a fixture at our annual Valentine’s Day party. Jeanne taught me about wildflowers and Jim was a delight even as the disease became more and more progressed.
We will be making a contribution in their names to the NC Arboretum.
May they rest in peace in a beautiful forest surrounded by Oconee Bells!
Dearest Family,
My sincere sympathy at the loss of your parents this year. Jeanne and Jim were such special members of the Arboretum family and were always supportive of our many projects and educational offerings. My best memories spent with your dad/grandad were as we walked in the area now called Forest Meadow where we prepared and made our plans and designs for the new tree plantings and landscape that is growing there today.
Sending love and blessings, Clara a. Curtis
Dear Family,
Our hearts go out to all of you. We are extremely sorry on the loss of your parents. We just found out that they both passed since our cards came back to our home in Canada.
We shared many terrific times camping with your parents in Banff and met many fine members of the family. We thoroughly enjoyed their company.
One morning in Banff, Jim came over with his pot of ‘grits’ and we are now stuck on his famous morning entree.
They loved each other so very much and are once again together looking down upon us.
Our deepest sympathy
Barbara & Doug Palmer
Canada