James Thomas Prim

James Thomas Prim

...went to be with his Lord, Jesus Christ, on March 10, 2024 in Green Valley, Arizona. Born in Pawnee, Oklahoma, to Rosanna Yellowcalf Prim and John Norman Prim on May 25, 1934. He was a member of the Skidi band of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and was given the name Kuruks Taka (White Bear).

He served the United States of America as a member of the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1955 at San Diego, California, where he lived for much of his life. His service to our country allowed him the opportunity to learn the growing use of radar and he subsequently used that knowledge at Convair Corporation and eventually worked on the Atlas Missile project of General Dynamics in San Diego. He then worked at Gulf General Atomic in Torrey Pines, California and even helped install a Triga nuclear reactor in South Vietnam in the mid-1960s. His early technical experience helped him finish his college degree that he had begun at Occidental College in the early 1950s and completed his Bachelors Degree in Mathematics at San Diego State College. He then acquired a Masters Degree from National University while teaching Math and Electronics at San Diego Mesa College. He retired from teaching as a full professor after 32 years and was a well-loved teacher, leader and mentor at the school.

Jim was an avid athlete and loved football, baseball, basketball, racket ball, hand ball and running. He also was very fond of horseback riding and had a horse, Jack, that was his pride and joy for many years. However, his favorite sport was golf and he was excellent at it. One of his sons commented recently that he could never beat his dad, until one day Jim went golfing with him and only rode in the cart. He was a regular at several golf courses in San Diego and would be at home at Balboa Park Golf Course as well as the famous Torrey Pines course. His dream came true when he moved to Kino Springs, Arizona to live on a golf course.

As important as these things may have seemed, there where two branches of Jim's life that superseded all other things.

The first was his love for family. He would recount that he was raised in Pawnee, OK by his grandmother, Addie Realrider, and that he knew, no matter the challenge in his life, that getting to that back door of her house would provide safety, comfort and love. He lived there off and on until he was about 15 when he moved to Highland Park, California to live with his mother and step-father Rosanna and Walter Turnbull. He attended Luther Burbank Junior High and Benjamin Franklin Senior High School. It was at Franklin High that he met and later married Arlene Rimer with whom he had four sons. They moved to San Diego while he served his country in the Marines. They would later divorce and Jim married Claudette Padgett with whom he would have another son. This marriage also ended in divorce. As problematic as these relationships may have become, Jim never lost his care and concern for the members of these families.

In 1985, Jim met and joyfully married Joyce Butler who became not only his beloved wife, but closest friend. Their home, whether in La Mesa, California or in Kino Springs, Arizona has become ground central to the ever increasing family called the Prims. Jim and Joyce have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with all the Prims and “Grandpa Jim” expressed his love to these openly and often.

Jim was not a perfect man and that is why the second important branch of his life stands above and beyond all others. He came to a recognition of his personal neediness and submitted to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in the late 1970s. He was a lover of God's word, the Bible, and studied it continuously. He loved to talk about its impact for our lives and often would speak passionately about it. He loved theological dialogue and would engage in profound discourse with whoever might “listen to him.” He was a consistent attender at church, a leader in every one that he joined, a Bible study teacher, deacon and a committed Gideon. He and Joyce have been members of the Green Valley Baptist Church since 2008.

Jim is survived by his wife Joyce, his five sons, John (Leigh), Tony (Jessie), Bob (Barbara), Joe (Debbie) and Jesse (Erin), his sister Suzanne Turnbull Paulman (Bill), his 17 grandchildren, and 22 Great grandchildren. Many will miss his talkative nature, love, energy, humor, generosity and passion.

Without a doubt, Jim Prim is rejoicing in glory at the feet of His Lord, Jesus Christ!