James Eugene Livesay, age 91, of Oak Ridge, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 21.

Jim was born January 10, 1924, in Frankfort, West Virginia, to Lock and Mary Livesay. He was the youngest of eight children.

He enlisted in the United States Army with the 249th Engineer Battalion. Serving in the European Theater, Jim landed on Utah Beach in August 1944. He was wounded with shrapnel in one battle. After recovering from his wounds, Jim re-engaged with his unit and was shot three times during the Battle of the Bulge. After recovering at Walter Reed Hospital, he was honorably discharged. He received a Purple Heart, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the American Campaign Medal.

Jim met Betty Ruth Samuels in Ronceverte, West Virginia, while he worked as a farm manager and Betty was in nursing school. They eloped on February 8, 1947, and drove to Kentucky to get married. [Read more…]