James Steven Britton

STEWART – James Steven Britton, 73, of Stewart, passed away Wednesday morning, April 1, 2015 at Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster after a long and hard fought battle with Multiple Myeloma and renal failure. Jim was born November 16, 1941 in the village of New England, Athens County, he was the son of the late Albert Britton and Kathryn Lewis Britton. After graduating from Rome-Canaan High School in 1960, he enlisted in the US Navy and spent 16 years 4 months serving his country, coming back to New England in 1979 and living the rest of his life on the land where he was born. He retired in 2003 after working the last 15 years at TS Trim in Athens. Jim loved the Navy and wished he could have spent many more years there, but had to retire with disability. He had served in the Cuban Blockade, Dominican Republic and Vietnam and in November 1963, served on the Honor Guard for President Kennedy’s casket while Lying in State in the Rotunda. He was a decorated veteran, serving in UDT and later SEAL and held the rank of Master Chief at his discharge. He was a life member of DAV, VFW. And AMVETS, but his heart was with DAV and he spent many years serving in all Chapter offices, as District Commander, State Executive Committee offices, then becoming State Department Commander year 2000-2001. After this, he served on other Department committees and then served on the Department Finance Committee until he had to resign because of his health in 2013. Fighting for the rights of disabled veterans and all disabled was one of the most important things in his life. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen (Rinehart) Britton; a son, James C. Britton of Toledo; three stepsons, Robert (Mardi) Denney, Jr. of Corpus Christi, TX, Chris (Tanya) Willard of Ray, OH, Art (Michelle) Willard of Rutland, OH; nine grandchildren, Elizabeth, Cassandra, James C., II, Elaina, Haley and Cody Britton of Toledo, Steven Britton of Yreka, CA, Spec. Benny (Ashley) Willard, II of Ft. Stewart, GA, Dianna Willard of Rutland, and Robert Denny, III of Corpus Christi, TX; six great grandchildren; a sister, Claudette Hunter of Athens; also, a special nephew, Joe Newlun and special buddy, always here to help, Paul Gurzynski and faithful, much loved dogs he called his “girls”, Josie and Dixie. Besides his parents, Jim was preceded in death by an infant son, Timothy; two daughters, Bobbie Jean and Hope Marie; and a brother, Albert Leon. Services will be Tuesday at 1:00 PM at Hughes-Moquin Funeral Home with James Keller officiating. Burial will be in New England Cemetery where Military Services will be conducted by the Athens American Legion Post 21, Athens VFW Post 3477 and the Albany VFW Post 9893. Friends may call at the funeral home Monday from 4 to 8 PM where a DAV Service will be at 7:00 PM. You may sign the online guestbook or leave a private message of sympathy for the family at www.hughesmoquinfuneralhome.com.