James A. Fannin

James Atwell Fannin was born April 3, 1935 in Williamson, WV., to Ethel and Frank Fannin of Belfry, KY. He passed away December 15, 2020 in Pinellas Park, FL. His mother passed away soon after his birth of Tuberculosis and he went to live with his aunt and uncle Lula and Charlie Bill Roberts. Lula and Charlie Bill would raise him in Belfry KY, and Ironton, OH.

James attended high school and college in Kentucky Military Academy.

He met the love of his life Eleanor Runyon in Belfry, KY in 1954 and they married in 1955. Eleanor passed away in April of 1990. They had two sons; Jim Fannin of Seminole, Fl., and Bob Fannin of Claremore, Ok.

James worked at Betsy Ross Bakery in Belfry, KY. until March of 1960. He moved to Lake Wales, FL., to work for Foremost Dairy. In July of 1970 he moved to Lubbock, TX. after 1970 Lubbock Tornado where he helped open Florida Tile with his brother-in-law; Ken Slater and their preacher John Purser. In July of 1971 he moved to Seminole, FL. and worked for Independent Life Ins.

In June of 1975 James moved back to Lubbock to work for Florida Tile/Frontier District. In August of 1980 returned back to Seminole, FL and worked for Independent Life. He moved back to Lubbock and returned to Frontier District in July 1982. In June of 1987 he returned to Seminole and Independent Life. Eleanor passed away in 1990 in Seminole, FL. James retired in 2006 in Seminole.

James loved the Lord with all his heart and was a kind and gentle man! He loved his sweet wife Eleanor and his two sons more than anything.

He was a man that taught by example and not words….. anyone that knew him knew this to be true. He was a huge fan of sports and John Wayne movies.

He loved NASCAR, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Braves. His 2 sons think that the only reason he liked the Redskins was because his brother in law Ken Slater loved the Cowboys.

Big A, James A, Colonel Fannin, and Jim were a few of his nicknames!

James is survived by his two sons; Jim and Bob, grandson; Sam Fannin and his wife, Grace, and their children; Maddie and Campbell of Flower Mound, TX., granddaughter; Molly Baker and her husband John Baker, and their daughter, Hadley of Allen, TX., grandson; Luke Fannin of Fayetteville, AR., granddaughter; Maddy Tollett and her husband Trent Tollett of Cave Springs, AR.

He was a man that never complained about anything!!!!

RIP BIG A

You will be missed!!!