James Edward Colvin, Sr.

James Edward Colvin Sr., of Visalia, CA lovingly known as "Jim," passed away on March 20th 2026 at the age of 92. Born in Jeffersonville, Indiana - Jim lived a long and meaningful life grounded in faith, family, and hard work. Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rosemary Colvin; his daughter, Paula Harper (Buck Harper); and all of his siblings: Mary Jane Smith, Patricia Howard, Cora Mae Evans, Tommy Colvin, Betty King, Taylor Colvin, David Colvin, Thomas Colvin, William Colvin, and Barbara Popp. As the last surviving sibling, Jim carried with him a lifetime of cherished memories shared with his brothers and sisters. He is survived by his children: Nancy Colvin Melton of Somerset, Kentucky; Gayla (Ralph) Colvin Duvall of Albany, Kentucky; and James Colvin Jr. (Sandie Strickland) of Fullerton, California. Jim was a proud grandfather to Maddie Colvin (Daniel Molina), Andrea Melton, Candi (Felipe) Pereira, Jimmy (Joni) Duvall, and Adam (Ashley) Duvall, Sandy Harper. He also shared a special bond with his niece, Tammy (Mark) Dowell, whom he loved as one of his own children, as well as her children: Amber Cuadrado, Mark Dowell Jr., and Lori Dowell. His legacy continues through his great-grandchildren: Aleigha (Matthew) Nelson, Amber (Sean) Thacker, Taryn Booher, Tyler (Hallie) Neal, Maddi Booher, Adalyn Duvall, Drake Booher, Travis Duvall, Amiya Duvall, Knoxx Duvall, Urijah Pereira, and Silas Pereira, as well as Daniel, Zachary, Robert, and two additional great-grandsons; as well as his great-great-grandson, Jaxon Neal. Jim proudly served in the Army National Guard for four years in his early life. He went on to work for McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach, California-now Boeing-where he dedicated over 30 years of service, including work in aircraft inspection. After retiring, he moved to Woodlake, California, where he continued working as a security guard. He was known for his strong work ethic and his dedication to providing for his family. Outside of work, Jim found joy in life's simple and meaningful pleasures. For a time, he raised bees, tending to them with patience and care. He loved camping, especially trips to Death Valley, where he created lasting memories with his loved ones. He also enjoyed flying small airplanes out of Long Beach Airport, a hobby that brought him a great sense of freedom and joy. Jim was a man who held onto quiet dreams. One of those dreams was to visit Hawaii-a goal he approached in his own steady way, saving dimes over time. With the love and support of his family, that dream became a reality. He didn't just dream-he followed through, one dime at a time. Above all, he loved being a father and grandfather and took great pride in his family, always showing up with love, support, and quiet strength. He lived a life built with steady hands, quiet faith, and love given freely-one small, meaningful moment at a time. Jim was a long-time member of Gateway Church of Visalia, where he faithfully served as an usher for many years. He and his beloved wife, Rosemary, shared a strong Christian faith, and we find comfort in knowing they are reunited in heaven, at peace. Jim will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved him. Services will be held on April 17, 2026, with a burial service at Visalia Cemetery at 12:00 PM, followed by a memorial service at Gateway Church at 1:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a GoFundMe to assist with remaining expenses not covered by life insurance. Donate to Help Honor My Grandpa's Memory, organized by Maddie Colvin Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

James Edward Colvin, Sr.

July 18, 1933 - March 20, 2026