James W. Piper, 63, of Buckhannon, died Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa.

He was born Sept. 10, 1946, at Pittsburgh, Pa., a son of the late John and Vesta Hoey Piper.

On July 15, 1989, he married Lorma I. Suder, who survives. Also surviving are one sister, Diana Ludwig and husband, Al, of Kansas City, Mo.; one nephew, Alfred Ludwig of Missouri; and one brother-in-law, Freddy Suder and wife, Stacy, of Buckhannon.

He worked in maintenance for Westinghouse and was a member of the Good Hope Tabernacle. Mr. Piper graduated from Norwin High School in Pittsburgh in 1964. He attended Davis & Elkins College and the University of Pheonix online. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1968, having served on the U.S. Power DD 839 and a Navy Destroyer. He was a member of Frank B. Bartlett Post 7 American Legion and Buckhannon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3663. He was HAM Radio Operator WV8JP and was a certified communicator for the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Units. Taking Bible courses he was able to go through the Bible twice and made 95 to 100 each time. He supported a child through compassion.

Friends will be received from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at the Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with Pastor Holly J. Hoover and the Rev. John Ingram officiating. Burial will follow in Rock Springs Cemetery, three miles past Kesling Mill. Frank B. Bartlett Post 7 American Legion, Buckhannon VFW Post 3663 and Disabled American Veterans Chapters 5 and 36 will conduct military honors at the graveside.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.