James Allen Hargrove died peacefully November 3, 2018 with his wife by his side. He was born May 10, 1944 in Indianapolis, Indiana to parents J. Gordon Hargrove and Katherine K. Hargrove. He went by "Jim", or by his favorite title, "Papa Jim".
An electrician by trade, he spent many years working in power plants along the Texas coast, and he served in the Navy during the Vietnam War.
Jim's dreams of a slow and mellow retirement were dashed, as God had other plans for him-and more work for Jim. His live took a dramatic and unexpected turn in 2009 when his two grandsons came to live with him and his wife, Beverly. Jesse and Alex were 6 and 4 at the time, and Jim continued to raise and nurture them until his death. Although he never had children of his own, God entrusted him with two young men to raise, and he considered them his greatest blessing.
Jim had a remarkable ability to overcome daunting health issues, including several heart attacks. This has lead more than one person to question whether he might have inherited his pet cat's nine lives. He lived his life with vigor, sometimes against Doctor's orders. Through his trials, he always remained calm and steady, a living example of his unwavering faith.
Jim loved the outdoors and some of his favorite past times were fishing, relaxing at the beach, hiking through nature preserves, and visiting state parks around the country. His wife introduced him to cruising, and he enjoyed travel by sea as well. He found great joy in sharing these experiences with his family, and teaching his grandsons about fishing, fossils, and more.
Jim is survived by his wife, Beverly Hargrove, grandsons, Jesse and Alex Weigel, Sister, Katherine Walraven, and step-children Stephanie and Travis Weigel. He is preceded in death by his sister, Evan Royal.
A memorial service celebrating Jim's life will be held Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 2pm at St. Catherine's of Sienna Episcopal Church, 4747 Sienna Pkwy, Missouri City, TX 77459.
Service Information
November 14, 2018 2:00pm, St. Catherine of Sienna Episcopal Church