James Milne, died on April 16, 2015 in West Linn, Oregon. James Lamont Milne was born to Zoi and Dick Chapin on 3/3/33 in Long Beach, CA. Zoi, remarried to Harry Milne, moved their family from Vallejo to Napa in 1948, Jim graduated from Napa High in 1950 holding the record for the 100 yard freestyle. He worked at Mare Island Ship Yard then joined the Navy. He passed the Navy entrance exam with a score of 100%, which resulted in the Navy offering to send him to the plebe class for entry in the Naval Academy at Annapolis, graduating in 1955. Jim began pilot training in Pensacola, Florida, then flew VP-48 Reconnaissance Seaplanes stationed in Japan, ending his Navy career in Alameda, CA. in 1960. He worked for FMC selling food-processing plants around the world and other companies while completing a course in Advanced Business Management at Stanford University. Following his marriage to Fayanna Nelson Petzoldt in 1993, residing in San Carlos, CA, he and Fay enjoyed many trips in their trailer, traveling abroad, and sailing the San Francisco Bay in their Cape Dory. Jim retired from Fujitsu in 1995 and began his career as a volunteer, beginning with his securing a 2 year certification from UCSC in Teaching English as a Second Language which he used to teach and tutor immigrants of all nationalities and tutoring young students and adults needing help referred to him by the Redwood City Library. He developed a program to tutor foreign business people in proper business English and customs. He added to the resume the course needed to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), which he continued after moving to West Linn, Oregon in 2007. He joined the West Linn Library Advisory Board, soon becoming its Chairman. He retired this role, when asked to join the West Linn Transportation Advisory Committee. In 2010 he became a U.S. Census Taker. He was a member of the Planning Committee for the new West Linn Police Building, and also the Willamette Neighborhood Association. His last undertaking was to become an Advisor for Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA). Jim remains deeply loved and admired by his wife, Fayanna, daughters, Anne Rampone, Jay White, Pam Teshera, Sheryl Hellweg; sons, Laurent Milne, Tom Petzoldt, Sergio Rampone, Mike Hellweg; 14 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, his brother Tim Milne and wife, Helen, a legion of friends including the many children and adults he tutored and mentored. A life well lived. Jim will have a Burial at Sea Ceremony in San Francisco Bay with family and fellow Navy fliers on board, followed by a private Celebration of Life.
Published in San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on May 1, 2015 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mercurynews/obituary.aspx?pid=174754559#sthash.mL5i1xke.dpuf