Franklin Charles James was born May 8, 1933 in Forks, Wash., to John Eddington Lloyd James (1865-1938) and Ellen Gidlund (1882-1955). He passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2012 in Centralia, Wash., due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. Frank is survived by his two sons Jeff James (and partner Sheena Kriekenbeek) of Seattle, and Jim James of Tacoma, his best friends Ron and Janet Brown of Centralia, and numerous children and grandchildren of his brothers and sister. He is preceded in death by his parents, his siblings and their spouses; Robert James (wife Irene), Daisy Klahn (husband Fritz), Jack James (wife June), Bill James (wife Jeanne) and Richard James. Frank graduated from Forks High School class of 1953. He was stationed in Japan while serving in the U.S. Air Force (1953-57) at the conclusion of the Korean War and often shared his fond memories of Japanese people and culture. On return to the U.S., he worked in Forks, Wash.,at the local pharmacy and reconnected with friends before moving to Seattle where he briefly worked public relations for local hotels, then transitioned to managing the Northwest region for Gibson Greeting Cards. His final career saw the better part of two decades in the medical book business, selling technical literature to physicians and dentists throughout the Western U.S. A role with W. B. Saunders Medical publishing took Frank, wife Janice, and his first son to Hawaii, where his youngest, Jim, was born in 1975. The 1970s and 80s included moves back and forth between Hawaii and the 'mainland' for Frank and his family, culminating in a move to Fresno, Calif., in 1985. Returning to the Northwest in 1988, he divorced shortly thereafter, raising his sons in Federal Way, Wash., for the better part of the next decade. He then relocated to Centralia, Wash., to reconnect with high school friend Ron Brown and his wife Janet, gradually winding down his career in medical book sales. He lived his remaining years appreciated by many as the friendliest retiree at Sharon Care Nursing Home...A smile at the ready. As a passionate believer in lifelong learning and self-improvement, Frank enjoyed literature on personal development, and the variety in peoples, cultures and geography across the globe. He enjoyed conversations about the world at large. He also talked often of his fathers adventures and polyglotism acquired in a life lived abroad with gusto and vigorous curiosity. Frank enjoyed quoting from Shakespeare's Hamlet and Macbeth. His parting words to the world would likely be, "Exercise both body and mind. Make learning and growth a habit you share, nurturing new meaningful relationships your whole life." Frank is missed by friends and family alike. There will be no memorial service. The family has planned a private celebration.