Obituary: James William Dickerson, 95

East Greenwich Patch learned only today of the death of Jim Dickerson. We regret that calling hours and the funeral have already taken place. He died just days after the death of fellow Ecumenical Food Cupboard volunteer Dick Parenteau. To read a story from November 2009 about Jim and Dick and the Food Cupboard, click here.

James William Dickerson, 95, passed away February 20, 2012 at Sawtelle Hospice House in Reading, Mass., surrounded by his beloved family.

Born in Providence in 1916 to Charles and Ethel Dickerson, Jim and his family lived in Arnold’s Neck, Warwick, for many years. He married his late wife, Jean Marshman, in 1954 and lived in Potowomut for 55 years.

Jim served in the Pacific during World War II, building island airfields, worked for the General Fittings Company for 24 years, and ran the East Greenwich ecumenical food cupboard for 25 years. He helped his brothers and nephew John build Apponaug Harbor Marina and was an active member of East Greenwich United Methodist Church and Gideons International. An avid sailor, he sailed single-handedly into his late 80s.

He was the devoted father of Laurie Orsi and her husband, Rich; Charles “Ty” Kyliavas and his wife, Laurie; and David Gallogly and his wife, Mary; beloved grandfather of Nathan, William Hohmann and his wife, Tine, Alexander, Julie, Ryan, James and Collin; adored uncle of Leigh, John, Donna, Rick, Bob, Ed, Steve and Mike; and cherished brother of the late Charles and John Dickerson, and brother-in-law of Avis Dickerson, Elizabeth Gaylord, Pat Marshman and the late Marjorie Dickerson.

Calling hours will be held Feb. 24 from 5-7 p.m. at Urquhart-Murphy Funeral Home, 800 Greenwich Ave., Warwick. A funeral will be held Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. at East Greenwich United Methodist Church, 1558 South County Trail, followed by a ceremony at Brayton Cemetery, 3468 Post Road, Apponaug, and luncheon at the East Greenwich Yacht Club, 10 Water St.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully accepted to Gideon’s International (www.gideons.org). For information and guest book visit www.murphyfuneralhomes.org.