James A. Champion, 81 of Spring Hill, Fla., died Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at HPH Hospice in Brooksville, Fla.
He was born in Thorsby and came to the Spring Hill area 31 years ago from Gautier, Miss. He was an electronic technician for the Aero Space Industry and devoted his life to the U.S. Navy and his family.
Survivors include his wife, Diane Champion; sons, James Champion Jr. of Church Point, La., Richard Davis of Norfork, Va., and Michael Davis of Land O’Lakes, Fla.; three daughters, Kathleen Elswick of Port Richey, Fla., Jennifer Aldana of Madisonville, La., and Terry Blake of Eddinton, Maine; brother, Clyde Champion of Pensacola, Fla.; sister, Nancy Cartwright of Amarillo, Texas; 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Monday, May 23 at Merritt Funeral Home, Spring Hill Chapel. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Arrangements are by Merritt Funeral Home, Spring Hill Chapel, Spring Hill, Fla. Online at www.merrittfuneral.com.
