James Monroe Newton
December 13, 1915 — June 13, 2018
James M. Newton, 102 ½, of Marion, passed away peacefully at home under hospice care on June 13, 2018. Visitation: 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, June 18, 2018, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion. Graveside service: 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at Marshalltown Cemetery, rural Diagonal. Burial arrangements by Armstrong Funeral Home, Mt. Ayr, Iowa.
James was born December 13, 1915, near Maloy, Iowa, to Julia Maude (Jones) and Monroe Amos Newton. He graduated from Diagonal High School and served in World War II and the Korean Conflict before returning to Iowa. He was united in a 63-year marriage to Mary Thompson from Guthrie Center. They moved to Cedar Rapids where he worked 27 years at Collins Radio, retiring to winter in Arizona for 30 years. James had many varied interests; airplanes (Piper Cub), motorcycling (BMW), Ham Radio (KODNI), and studying history, especially Civil War and World War II. He took his family on many vacations which included battlefields, and visiting family and friends throughout the United States. In 2012, he was proud to participate in the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight. He was a longtime member of the VFW and American Legion in which he was a past color guard commander in Diagonal. James loved meeting new people; it was his positive attitude, use of quiet humorous wit and willingness to try new things which made him endearing to all he met on the long, full, road of his life. His family was his most important and proudest achievement. On his last night, Dad said, “It’s been a great ride” with a grin as wide and wise as he was.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Newton of Marion; three children, Julia (Rick) Newmarch of Cedar Rapids, James Newton of Arizona, and Marilyn Newton of Marion; and numerous nieces and nephews.
James was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Truman Tharp, Troyl Tharp, Thomas Tharp, Elizabeth (Ray) Payne, and Clyde Hogue.
James was born December 13, 1915, near Maloy, Iowa, to Julia Maude (Jones) and Monroe Amos Newton. He graduated from Diagonal High School and served in World War II and the Korean Conflict before returning to Iowa. He was united in a 63-year marriage to Mary Thompson from Guthrie Center. They moved to Cedar Rapids where he worked 27 years at Collins Radio, retiring to winter in Arizona for 30 years. James had many varied interests; airplanes (Piper Cub), motorcycling (BMW), Ham Radio (KODNI), and studying history, especially Civil War and World War II. He took his family on many vacations which included battlefields, and visiting family and friends throughout the United States. In 2012, he was proud to participate in the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight. He was a longtime member of the VFW and American Legion in which he was a past color guard commander in Diagonal. James loved meeting new people; it was his positive attitude, use of quiet humorous wit and willingness to try new things which made him endearing to all he met on the long, full, road of his life. His family was his most important and proudest achievement. On his last night, Dad said, “It’s been a great ride” with a grin as wide and wise as he was.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Newton of Marion; three children, Julia (Rick) Newmarch of Cedar Rapids, James Newton of Arizona, and Marilyn Newton of Marion; and numerous nieces and nephews.
James was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Truman Tharp, Troyl Tharp, Thomas Tharp, Elizabeth (Ray) Payne, and Clyde Hogue.
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