James Upshaw, Sr. was born 25 February 1930 in De Leon, Texas to Samuel Reese Upshaw, Sr. (1882-1940) and Roxie Anna Locke (1899-1994). He was the youngest of six children born to his father. With the exception of the passing of his father when James was just 10 years old, his childhood in De Leon was filled with fun and adventure. Although James had older half-siblings, he was the only son to his mother who thought of James as a special gift from God. He was a man of many talents and excelled in his pursuit of music, aviation, painting and witnessing for the Lord.
James married Margie Nell Land of Hico, Texas in 1950 and to that union four children were born. The couple was happily devoted to each other for 64 years.
James was especially talented in music. He learned to play a guitar at an early age and eventually could play any stringed instrument including steel guitar, fiddle, banjo and bass. For many years he played and sang in western music bands. He directed choirs at several churches in the Fort Worth, Texas area and also sang solos for church services and weddings. He became a lay preacher in the Christian Church and for several years he dedicated his weekends to pastoring congregations in Ranger and Comanche driving long distances from his home in Fort Worth.
He served two years in the U.S. Air Force prior to and during the Korean War Conflict. He was a draftsman for Texas Electric Utilities in Fort Worth for 38 years and was active in the Tabernacle Masonic Lodge where he received the highest Golden Trowel Award. Aviation was a lifelong passion and James was a licensed pilot most of his adult life until he was forced for health reasons to stop flying.
James married Margie Nell Land of Hico, Texas in 1950 and to that union four children were born. The couple was happily devoted to each other for 64 years.
James was especially talented in music. He learned to play a guitar at an early age and eventually could play any stringed instrument including steel guitar, fiddle, banjo and bass. For many years he played and sang in western music bands. He directed choirs at several churches in the Fort Worth, Texas area and also sang solos for church services and weddings. He became a lay preacher in the Christian Church and for several years he dedicated his weekends to pastoring congregations in Ranger and Comanche driving long distances from his home in Fort Worth.
He served two years in the U.S. Air Force prior to and during the Korean War Conflict. He was a draftsman for Texas Electric Utilities in Fort Worth for 38 years and was active in the Tabernacle Masonic Lodge where he received the highest Golden Trowel Award. Aviation was a lifelong passion and James was a licensed pilot most of his adult life until he was forced for health reasons to stop flying.
James Upshaw, Sr. was born 25 February 1930 in De Leon, Texas to Samuel Reese Upshaw, Sr. (1882-1940) and Roxie Anna Locke (1899-1994). He was the youngest of six children born to his father. With the exception of the passing of his father when James was just 10 years old, his childhood in De Leon was filled with fun and adventure. Although James had older half-siblings, he was the only son to his mother who thought of James as a special gift from God. He was a man of many talents and excelled in his pursuit of music, aviation, painting and witnessing for the Lord.
James married Margie Nell Land of Hico, Texas in 1950 and to that union four children were born. The couple was happily devoted to each other for 64 years.
James was especially talented in music. He learned to play a guitar at an early age and eventually could play any stringed instrument including steel guitar, fiddle, banjo and bass. For many years he played and sang in western music bands. He directed choirs at several churches in the Fort Worth, Texas area and also sang solos for church services and weddings. He became a lay preacher in the Christian Church and for several years he dedicated his weekends to pastoring congregations in Ranger and Comanche driving long distances from his home in Fort Worth.
He served two years in the U.S. Air Force prior to and during the Korean War Conflict. He was a draftsman for Texas Electric Utilities in Fort Worth for 38 years and was active in the Tabernacle Masonic Lodge where he received the highest Golden Trowel Award. Aviation was a lifelong passion and James was a licensed pilot most of his adult life until he was forced for health reasons to stop flying.
James married Margie Nell Land of Hico, Texas in 1950 and to that union four children were born. The couple was happily devoted to each other for 64 years.
James was especially talented in music. He learned to play a guitar at an early age and eventually could play any stringed instrument including steel guitar, fiddle, banjo and bass. For many years he played and sang in western music bands. He directed choirs at several churches in the Fort Worth, Texas area and also sang solos for church services and weddings. He became a lay preacher in the Christian Church and for several years he dedicated his weekends to pastoring congregations in Ranger and Comanche driving long distances from his home in Fort Worth.
He served two years in the U.S. Air Force prior to and during the Korean War Conflict. He was a draftsman for Texas Electric Utilities in Fort Worth for 38 years and was active in the Tabernacle Masonic Lodge where he received the highest Golden Trowel Award. Aviation was a lifelong passion and James was a licensed pilot most of his adult life until he was forced for health reasons to stop flying.
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