James Elmer Jimmy Popal Newlen, 76, widower of Barbara Helen (Gaylor) Newlen of 1168 New Hope Road passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at Augusta Health in Fishersville.
Mr. Newlen was born March 10, 1938 in Staunton, a son of the late Thomas Elmer and Annabelle (Crawford) Newlen.
Jimmy retired as a Chief Petty Officer in the Naval Reserves serving as a Radio Electronics Specialist and was retired from Montgomery Ward in 1996 where he worked as a service tech. He was a member of the Valley Amateur Radio Association and his call sign was KE4CAX. As a ham operator he contacted over 100 countries and all 50 states. He was an avid Baltimore Orioles and Staunton Braves fan, loved to camp and enjoyed listening to books on tape.
In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Newlen was preceded in death by a daughter, Teresa Lynn Waitier; two brothers, Carlton D. Newlen and Melvin C. Newlen; and a sister, Lois N. Roberts.
Surviving are two sons, D. Bruce Newlen of Richmond, and J. Scott Newlen and his wife Gail of Staunton; two sisters, Thelma N. Sheets and Gladys N. Showalter and a sister-in-law, Donna L. Newlen all of Staunton; nine grandchildren, Michelle Johnson and her husband Johnny, Billie Sue Balser, Kirby Lynn Newlen, Trevor Blake Newlen, Colby Lee Newlen and friend Kirsten von Hagn, Matthew Aaron Newlen, Jordyn Veronica Newlen, Andrew Strite Newlen, and Ethan Thomas Newlen; two great-great grandchildren, Mackenzie Johnson and Greyson Brice Newlen; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 p.m. Friday, May 2, 2014 at Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory and other times at the residence.
A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 3, 2014 in the Coffman Funeral Home Chapel by Pastor Joe Slater.
Burial will follow in Oaklawn Memory Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Colby Lee Newlen, Andrew Strite Newlen, Jesse Douglass, Michael Carberry, Ethan Thomas Newlen, and Matthew Aaron Newlen.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Valley Radio Club Members.
It is suggested those desiring make memorial contributions to the Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad, Post Office Box 2566, Staunton, VA 22402, Augusta County Fire Department, 1026 Richmond Road, Staunton, VA 24401 or the Talking Book Center at Staunton Public Library, 1 Churchville Avenue, Staunton, VA 24401.
Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive, Staunton is in charge of his arrangements.