Obituary of James Roscoe Offutt Jr.
February 16, 1938, James Roscoe and Arizona West Offutt had baby number two, James Roscoe Offutt Jr. Before him, Carolyn Offutt Prince. After, “Jimmie”, David Offutt, Charles “Tom” Offutt, Ronnie Offutt, twins Connie Offutt and Candy Offutt Hatfield, Sharon Sue Offutt Coffman, Theodore “Ted” Offutt, and half-brother, Patrick Offutt.
Even if his feet were all he had to get him somewhere, he would go. It was nothing for him to hitch a ride or give a complete stranger a ride. Florida to work, Churchill Downs in Kentucky to watch a horse race and Indiana, where his brother Tom was living and where he would meet his second wife and mother of his kids, Kevin James Offutt and Wanda Sue Offutt David.
Wanda had his first granddaughter, Cassie Renae Offutt, who gives James a new name, “Pa”. Kevin has his first grandson, Tyler Kevin Offutt. Wanda marries Michael David. Kevin marries Amber Lewis Offutt. Three more grandkids would call him “Papaw”; Michael Modi David, Lucas James David, and Willow Mariedith David.
He held lots of different jobs in lots of different places. Cabdriver, Amusement Ride Operator for Fikes Fiesta and Gambill Amusements, and Groundsman at Fairmont State College to name a few. The only job he loved more than being a Carnie was being a Newspaper Carrier for the Times West Virginian. Some may think of Newspaper Carrier as a teenage job. Far, far from it. It is an up before dawn, physically demanding, 365 days a year devotion. James delivered every single newspaper as if every customer was a long-time friend. That personal touch he gave would not go unnoticed by one newspaper customer, Mary Rizzo. Only James and Mary know who caught who but they would spend the next Sixteen years together caring for and taking care of each other.
During his 81 years of living James lost his father, mother, nephew Russell, the mother of his children, brothers Tom and Ted, and most recently his sister Carolyn.
In life he was a Baptist by faith, believing in Heaven and the words in The Bible. So with that in your heart, you poor sick heart that could not beat in this life any longer, please tell everyone we love and miss you all and hope to see all of you again someday.
Goodbye to a Son, a Brother, an Uncle, a Husband, a Dad, a Pa, a Papaw, and he always called Mary his Girlfriend so, goodbye to a Boyfriend. Lots of Love.
The family has entrusted arrangements to Ford Funeral Home, 201 Columbia St., Fairmont, WV 26554. All services will be private to the family. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.fordfuneralhomes.com.
