James Wakefield, 90, of Columbia, passed away on Friday April 19, 2019, at the Lancaster General Hospital, where he had briefly been a patient. He was the husband of Edna Sarbaugh Wakefield, with whom he would have celebrated 70 years of marriage in July. He is survived by his wife Edna, son Kirk and daughter-in-law Karen, and cousins Steve and Mark Wisler of Columbia, and Mike Wisler of Wrightsville. Also surviving are cousins Michelle Salisbury of Pittsburgh and Lisa Slezak of Erie, sister-in-law Shirley Lehman and nephew Jim Lehman of Columbia, brother-in-law Kenneth Sarbaugh of Lancaster, and 18 nieces and nephews.
Born on June 7, 1928, he was the son of the late Isaac and Elsie Wakefield, and a life-long resident of Columbia. He graduated from Columbia High School in 1947 where he was the co-captain of the Football team of ’46 and a starter on the 1947 Sectional Basketball Champions. After graduation he joined the Naval Reserves and was active in naval basketball for almost 20 years. He was employed at The United Sound & Signal Corp., Columbia for 10 years. He also worked at The Kahn-Lucas Mfg. Co. in Columbia for 33 years, retiring as Sewing Room Supervisor in 1990.
Jim was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing and raising Beagles and Rottweilers. He hunted at his camp in Potter county, neighboring states, and out west. His hobby of 20 years was a gunsmith, making Long Rifle Flintlocks in the traditional Lancaster county style. He was a member of the Swatara Beagle Club, the Artisans OMP Columbia #20, and the Newtown United Methodist church. A private memorial will be held at a time and location of the family’s choosing. Cremation Services of Lancaster (717) 273-6283
Dear Edna and Kirk,
My heart and thoughts are with you, with 5he loss of Jim.
What a long life he enjoyed! 90 years of living. 70 years of marriage.
I will remember the corn roasts where Jim showed off his vine tomatoes. Godspeed to you. All lives on that love remembers.
Dear Edna, was so sorry to read of Jim passing! Remember Jim and have many memories thru our school years and lost track of him in later years until our last reunion! It was so nice seeing you both after all that time! I pray God will ease your pain, as it never goes away! My Love, Thoughts and Prayers are with you!
Please accept my condolences on Jim’s passing. He was a mentor to me in my early career at Kahn Lucas. He was a very interesting person and I will always remember him and the great stories he would tell.
On behalf of the family of Lewis Ott, I want to offer condolences on Jim’s passing. He will be missed by the many friends he made and the loved ones he leaves behind. To his wife Edna who I worked with at Turkey Hill, I want to say I know Jim’s love will always be with you and he will continue to watch over the family he loved so dearly. Our thought and prayers are with you Edna and your family at this difficult time.