Lt. General (Ret.) Vernon E. James November 15, 1929 - April 22, 2010 Lt. General (Ret.) Vernon E. James, age 80, of Highland Drive, Tyrone, died Thursday, April 22, 2010, at the Tyrone Hospital. He was born Nov. 15, 1929, in Tyrone, the son of Boyd H. and Edith Swartz James. On Aug. 19, 1950, at Winchester, Va. he was married to Anna Belle Lucas. He is survived by his wife of 59 years and his children, Deborah Walk, of Tyrone, Joy Branstetter and husband Robert, of Philipsburg and Stephen and wife Susan, of Grazierville. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Todd Walk, Christie Gates and husband Gabe, Jamie Wagner and husband Brian and Ashley James; three great-grandchildren, Rylee Walk, Colin Walk and Emma Wagner; two brothers, Robert, of Florida and Dale James, of Tyrone. He was preceded in death by a brother Carlton and his wife Elma James. General James was a 1948 graduate of Tyrone High School and a graduate of Cumberland University in Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history. Initially he was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad and then by Westvaco Paper Company, retiring in 1992 after 39 years service. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church of Tyrone.

He entered military service on March 1, 1946. General James served for over 42 years in the National Guard. He held every leadership position from squad leader to Division Commander for the state of Pennsylvania. In January 1971, he assumed command of the 2nd Squadron, 104th Armored Cavalry. In April 1975, he assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry, 28th Division until June 3, 1977. He then moved to command the 56th Brigade 28th Infantry Division, in Philadelphia, and was promoted to the rank of Colonel. In August of 1980 he was appointed assistant Division Commander for Maneuver in the 28th Infantry Division and federally recognized as Brigadier General.

In May 1985, he assumed command of th 28th Infantry Division, with promotion to Major General. General James retired on the 30th of November 1989. His many awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, Pennsylvania Meritorious Service Medal, and the Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal. He was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and Senior Reserve Component Officer Course. General James was a member of the Blair County Veteran Association, Member Association U.S. Army, Military Officers Association, 28th Division Heritage Association, PA National Guard Association, United States Armor Association and the Honorable Order of St. George. Funeral service for Lt. General James will be Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at 11 a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church with Pastor Barry Neal officiating. Interment with military honors will be in Blair Memorial Park. Friends may call at the Richard H. Searer Funeral Home on Tuesday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. and on Wednesday at the church from 10-11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory are requested to Christ United Methodist Church, Pennsylvania Avenue and 14th Street, Tyrone, PA 16686.