James Dalton Dabbs, 81, passed away Dec. 26, 2017, at Helen Keller Hospital. He was born on March 15, 1936, in Sheffield, Alabama the son of Dalton and Wylodean Vann Dabbs, both deceased. He and his wife, Carole, celebrated 44 years of marriage on December 22nd. Other survivors include daughter, Trina Neal (Randy), of Killen, Alabama; and sons, James (Diana), of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Andrew (Roseanne), of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and Matthew (Missy), of Auburn, Alabama; sister, Linda Wade (Royce), of Irmo, South Carolina; one nephew, David (Lisa) Wade, of Chapin, South Carolina; and one niece, Jena (Layne) Mason, of Union, Kentucky; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He graduated from Sheffield High School in 1954. He was active in football and track, selected for Boys State and the Honor Society, president of his senior class, and voted the “most versatile” and “best singer” in his senior year. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors from Florence State College, Florence, Alabama (now UNA), in 1958. He was initiated into Kappa Mu Epsilon, Honorary Mathematics Society. He attended Ohio State University for two semesters taking geodesy and related courses to prepare for his work as a cartographer with the Defense Mapping and Aerospace Center (DMAC) in St Louis, Missouri, a branch of the federal government. He retired from DMAC in 1992 after 34 years with a rank of GS13. During that time he obtained a certificate in data processing management which led to a systems analyst position. He was a recipient of the Outstanding DMA Personnel of the Year Award in 1992. He also served his country eight years in the Naval Reserves. His lifelong hobby was genealogical research. He was a member of the Natchez Trace Genealogical Society.
He was baptized into Christ at Annapolis Avenue Church of Christ, Sheffield, Alabama, where he attended in his early years. Upon retirement and relocating to the Shoals, he was a member of Highland Park Church of Christ. Visitation will be at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia, on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with the service following. Michael Brooks will be officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Sheffield, Alabama.
Memorials may be made to the Highland Park Church of Christ Mission Fund, 600 Geneva Ave., Muscle Shoals, AL 35661.
