In Memoriam : James Ashworth

James T. Ashworth - age: 92
(May 04, 1918 to September 25, 2010 )
Resident of Bentonville, Arkansas

Visitation Information:
Funeral Services will be held on November 12, 2010 at 2:00 PM at the Exeter Public Cemetery. Military honors will be under the auspice of the Tulare AM-Vets Post #56.

Obituary:
James T. Ashworth, age 92, a resident of Bentonville, Arkansas for the last three years and formerly of Clovis, California, passed away Saturday, September 25, 2010 at the Circle of Life Legacy Village Hospice in Bentonville.
James, “J.T.” or “Jim”, as he was also known, was born in Dillon, Montana on May 4, 1918 to James H. and Nina E. (Fessenden) Ashworth. After growing up in Montana, Jim moved to California in 1938, and began a career at Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank. He was instrumental in setting up aircraft factories in the San Joaquin Valley to produce war materials during the build-up to WWII. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1943, and received pilot training in Visalia. On October 16, 1943 he married Patty Wood in Las Vegas, Nevada and they were married for 62 years before her death in 2005. James served his country during WWII flying combat missions in the European Theater of Operations, and was awarded the Air Medal. Upon completing his combat duty and postings in Arizona and Nevada, he received an honorable discharge. The family settled in Woodlake, where Jim operated a flight training facility. Jim then pursued his career in farm equipment, truck and automobile sales, serving as General Manager of Linder Equipment Company in Tulare. His career in the automobile industry culminated as President of Lindel Chrysler Plymouth, Inc, in Porterville from 1967 until his retirement in 1985. Jim was instrumental in planning for and launching the Tulare Field and Row Crop Equipment Show. The show, known today as the World Ag Expo, began in 1968, and was held at the Tulare County Fairgrounds. The 3-day event proved to be successful and has been running for the last 42 years.
Jim was a member of the VFW, American Legion, and the Kiwanis Club for many years. He enjoyed playing golf, wood working, and traveling in his RV with his wife Patty. Jim and Patty traveled extensively in the US and in Europe, visiting family and friends after their retirement. They lived in the San Joaquin Valley for most of their lives.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife Patty; parents, James and Nina; brother, R. E. Ashworth; and grandson, Doug Ashworth. Jim is survived by two sons, Ed Ashworth and wife Joanne of Carson City, Nevada; Richard Scott Ashworth of Baltimore, Maryland; two daughters, Patricia A. Brock and husband Robert of Cave Springs, Arkansas; Janice Sabo of Bentonville, Arkansas; ten grandchildren, Mark, Kevin, Rob, Jennifer, Sara, Cynda, David, James, Brandon, and Meghan; seventeen great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Charles Hearn and wife Jeannie of Visalia, California.