James Oliver Harton was born January 30, 1946 in Fairmont, West Virginia, the fifth son and seventh child of the late Willie Dan and Rosa Lee Link Harton.  He departed this life September 8, 2019 at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia.

He attended Barnes School and Fairmont Senior High School where he excelled in sports and acquired a voracious love for reading and for history.  He received numerous awards for history and for sports.  He served our country as a United States Marine and served in Vietnam in the late 1960s.  He was employed for many years by Strong Memorial Hospital in the anesthesiology department and retired from Hope Gas Company.

He was united in holy matrimony to Wilma Y. Perkins in June 1966.  To this union were born three precious children: James (Jimmy), Tajuana,  and William (Poggy), now deceased.

James was a nature lover.  He did not like sitting behind a desk.  He loved to hunt, loved to garden and most especially loved to cook for family.  He would spend countless hours 'slaving' over delectable dishes for family gatherings, family weddings, neighbors and friends.

A great family man, he loved deeply his wife, Wilma, of 53 years,  and was absolutely crazy about his children and grandchildren.  And they all were crazy about their 'Dad' and 'Granddaddy' as they affectionately called him.  He always joyfully had one or more of his children or grandchildren at his feet or on his lap.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his devoted wife Wilma Harton; children, James (Ramonica) of Atlanta,

GA  and Tajuana Allen, of Atlanta, GA., Grandchildren, Tiffany, Tashara, Dekena, Jordan, William,

Cydney, Justin, Maya, Madison, Hannah, Shayla and Jayla; and eight great-grandchildren. Two sisters,

Deloris Burt of Chicago, IL and Oretha Arnold of Memphis, TN.  Two sisters-in-law Constance Henton, and Alice Perkins, both of Rochester New York; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who loved him dearly.

The family will receive friends at Morning Star Baptist Church, 100 McKinney Street in Fairmont, on Monday, September 16, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. The funeral service will be held on Monday at the church at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Wesley Dobbs officiating. Military honors provided by the Marion County Honor Guard will follow at the church. Online condolences may be sent to the family www.domicofh.com.