James “Jim” Rushing Stansell, Jr., 92, a wonderful man and father, passed away Saturday, August 22, 2015, at Cypress Pond Assisted Living at Home in Tifton. His funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon Saturday, August 29, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church in Tifton with Rev. Benjy Varnell, Senior Pastor, officiating. Mr. Stansell will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday, August 28, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals and Saturday, August 29, 2015, from 11:00 a.m. until the hour of the service in the Fellowship Hall at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church. The family will have time of fellowship and visitation with friends and family from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, August 29, 2015, at 1507 Pine Needle Place in Tifton.
Charles Stansell, Scott Stansell, Reid Stansell, Jeremy Stansell, Randy Weeks, Kyle Selph, Larry Sikes, Dari Sami, Clay Yarbrough, Ryan Carr and Ralph Fletcher will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Beacon Sunday school class of Tifton’s First United Methodist Church.
Jim Stansell was born August 22, 1923 in Omega, the son of James Rushing Stansell, Sr. and Gladys Iola Johnson Stansell, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Linnie Bell Weeks Stansell (1923-1992) and later married Eugenia “Gene” Drexel Gibbons (1924-2011). These were wonderful women, who were a blessing to Jim and his family. In addition, Jim was also preceded in death by his siblings, William “Billy” Wesley Stansell, Eleanor Juanita Stansell Johnson and Joseph Gary Stansell.
Jim, a native of Tift County, received his BS in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Georgia and his Ph.D. from Auburn University. He served in the United States Navy during World War II.
Dr. Stansell retired from the University of Georgia while serving as the Head of the Agricultural Engineering Department at the Tifton Coastal Plains Experiment Station. Much of his work at the Tifton Experiment Station was focused on tobacco, peanuts and fresh vegetables’ response to timing and amount of irrigation needed to maximize production and quality. He authored or co-authored over 60 publications during his career at the Experiment Station.
Dr. Stansell was a registered Professional Engineer, a member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineering, Gamma Sigma Delta, the American Peanut Research and Education Association and the Georgia Irrigation Association. He held many national and regional offices in his professional societies. He was a member of the University of Georgia Agriculture Eterna Club and a lifetime member of the Auburn Alumni Society.
Dr. Stansell, as a member of the Tifton Lions Club, served as Secretary, Director, Vice-President, President and Zone Chairman. He was presented with “The Lion of the Year’ award 1981-82 and the “President’s Award” 1982-83.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Tifton for many years and served as a member of the official board, Coordinator of Adult Education, Sunday school teacher and class President.
Jim Stansell is survived by his four sons and three daughters-in-law, Donald and Peggy Stansell of Montgomery, Alabama, Richard and Marlit Stansell of Sheldon, South Carolina, Fred and Linda Stansell of Cary, North Carolina and James Brett Stansell of Jacksonville, Florida; two step-daughters, Dr. Kathrine Gibbons of Tifton and Kristin Gibbons of La Crosse, Florida; ten grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Cypress Pond and Maple Court for the wonderful care during his stay with them.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that tribute/memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.act.alz.org.