James Foster (Jim) Andrews Obituary (1930 - 2015)

James Foster (Jim) Andrews, 85, church leader, Korean War veteran, and an outstanding high school athlete, died Monday, July 6, 2015, after a lengthy and courageous battle with Leukemia. He was born May 9, 1930 to parents Foster and Nell Andrews and is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 60 years, Margie Atnip Andrews; sons James Foster Andrews, Jr. (Freida) of Wichita, KS, Kevin Andrews of Jackson, TN; and daughter Kay (Curry) Dudley of Lebanon, TN. He is also survived by grandchildren Karen (Justin) Hathaway, Olathe, KS; Jessica Andrews Smith, Memphis; TN; Rebecca (Cody) Witte, Topeka, KS; Ben (Channing) Dudley, Mt. Juliet, TN; and Blair Dudley, Nashville, TN; and by seven great-grandchildren: Hunter Andrews, Harper and Drew Hathaway, Layton and Logan Witte, Jamie Smith, and Madelyn Dudley; and dear family friend Dr. Rob Woods. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by brothers, Bill, Sam, and Reece Andrews and sisters Mary Drennon and Martha Pegram, and by grandson Blake Andrews of Jackson, TN. Born the third son in a family of six children on a family farm on Cainsville Road near Lebanon, he grew up milking cows and getting an early introduction to the business of farming and agriculture. A sports enthusiast, he made the most of his 6'4" frame in high school and became an outstanding athlete. His height, somewhat of a rarity in the late 1940s, earned him the nickname "MoonGreaser" because, as a local sportswriter penned, he was "tall enough to grease the moon!" He excelled in football, basketball and baseball, winning varsity letters in each while a student at Lebanon High School. In high school he was recognized as All-Conference and All Mid-State in football, All Tournament in basketball, and Most Athletic his senior year. His prowess in sports earned him a selection into the LHS Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. Middle Tennessee State College (MTSU) awarded him an athletic scholarship 1949 after his high school graduation to play football and basketball. Suffering a broken ankle in his first college pre-season and being unable to play, he made the choice to enter the Navy in the spring of 1950 only days before the outbreak of the Korean War. After basic training in San Diego, he was stationed in Atlantic City, NJ with a patrol bomber squadron, VP-8, as a metal smith and airplane mechanic, specializing in hydraulics. He completed a four year tour with that squadron at Quonset Point, RI Naval Base that included deployments to Reykjavik, Iceland and Port Lyautey in French Morocco. While serving his country, Jim was able to continue his athletic pursuits playing football and baseball for a Navy team. The baseball team on which he played won the 1951 Navy Championship. He received an honorary discharge in 1954 receiving the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Upon his discharge he returned to Lebanon, married and continued his college education while working on the family farm. Graduating from MTSC in 1959 with a BS degree and a major in Science, he was encouraged by a professor there to pursue a graduate program at the University of Tennessee. At age 29 he was accepted into a special master's degree program offered by UT in coordination with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission's lab at Oak Ridge involving the study of the effects of radiation on the development of farm animals. He worked as a research assistant at the Oak Ridge laboratory during the period of his enrollment to pay tuition and other expenses. Completing the program, he received a Master's Degree with a double major in Animal Science and Radiation Biology. After receiving his Master's Degree he accepted a job in marketing and sales for Elanco, the animal pharmaceutical division of drug manufacturer, Eli Lilly. Throughout his 30 year career with Elanco, he achieved a tremendous amount of success and distinguished himself by winning several Management Advisory Council honors and sales performance awards while working with such agricultural giants as Purina, Con-Agra, Perdue and others. Moving back to Lebanon in 1992 after retirement, Jim became involved in a number of community activities and organizations. However, first and foremost was his commitment and dedication to the College Street - College Hills Church of Christ where he worshipped, served as an elder for 20 years, and taught several Bible school classes up until his death. Playing golf became his primary sports activity although discussing the accomplishments or would be future accomplishments of "Big Orange" football occupied a lot of his time. His interest in golf led to an active leadership role at the Lebanon Golf and Country Club where he served as a member of the club's board of directors. Visitation for Mr. Andrews will be Wednesday, July 8, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Partlow Funeral Chapel with his Home Going Funeral service to be held at the College Hills Church of Christ 1401 Leeville, Pike, Lebanon, at 1:00 pm Thursday, July 9, with visitation from 12:00 to 1:00 before the service and interment with military honors to follow at the Wilson County Memorial Gardens. Family will serve as pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers are Dr. Robert C. Woods, he and his wife's College Hills Church Life Group and the couple's LGCC Golfing Group. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Blake Andrews Memorial Fund, to benefit the further Christian education of their great grandson Hunter Andrews, in care of the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation at www.wthfoundation.org/give or gifts may be mailed directly to the Foundation at 620 Skyline Drive, Jackson, TN 38301. PARTLOW FUNERAL CHAPEL is in charge of arrangements. 615-444-7007 OBIT LINE 615-444-7700 www.partlowchapel.com Wednesday, July 08, 20154:00 PM - 7:00 PM Partlow Funeral Chapel 602 South Cumberland Street Lebanon, Tennessee 37087 Thursday, July 09, 20151:00 PM College Hills Church of Christ 1401 Leeville Pike Lebanon, Tennessee 37087