Hillsman, James Earl

Lt. Col. James Earl Hillsman, 91, of Pearisburg, Va. passed away Friday Morning, February 10, 2006 at Montgomery Regional Hospital in Blacksburg. Mr. Hillsman was born on August 13, 1914 in Roanoke and was a son the late Robert Austin and Ruth James Hillsman. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by one brother, Randolph Hillsman.

Mr. Hillsman graduated Jefferson High School in 1932, graduated VPI in 1936. Mr. Hillsman went on active duty in the Army in September 1940, serving three years and three months in the Pacific theater on the following islands, Fiji, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Solomon islands, the Philippines and Australia and retired from the Army a Lt. Col.

Mr. Hillsman also retired from the Celanese Corp in Narrows with 31 years of service. He was a charter member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pearisburg, and a member of M.O.O.A., (retired officers association), VFW Post 6000 in Narrows, Pearisburg Lions Club, Giles Lodge #106 A.F. & A.M., Roanoke Scottish Rite Bodies, Kazim Shrine Temple A.A.O.N.M.S., Giles Shrine Club, Princeton Elks Club, Giles Country Club.

Mr. Hillsman is survived by his wife of 67 years, Irene Scott Hillsman of Pearisburg; one sister-in-law, Bertie D. Hillsman of Del Ray Beach, Fla.; two nieces, Betty Kay Legere of Fla., Rita Amos and her husband, Williams R. of Roanoke, and one nephew, Charles H. Hylton and his wife Lawanda of Roanoke.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday, February 13, 2006 at 11 a.m. at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pearisburg with Pastor Linda Mitchell and Pastor Walter Vierling officiating with burial following at Evergreen Cemetery in Roanoke at 2 p.m.

The family will receive friends at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pearisburg from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday before the service. Memorial contributions can be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pearisburg. Online funeral condolences can be sent to the family at www.givensfuneralhome.com