James W. Elston…October 1, 1950 – February 24, 2014

           Funeral services for Hamilton County, Kansas resident, James W. Elston will be held at 2:00 p.m. MST on March 1, 2014 at the Wesleyan Church in Syracuse, KS, with Pastor Paul Runyon officiating.  Prior to the service, a noon meal will be served at the Hamilton County Fair Building.  Burial will follow in the Syracuse Cemetery.  Family viewing will be held from 5 – 7 p.m., Friday, February 28, 2014 at the Wesleyan Church in Syracuse.

            James W. Elston passed away at his residence in Syracuse on February 24, 2014 at the age of 63. As the second of four children, Jim was born in Syracuse, Kansas to parents James and Naomi (Stinchcomb) Elston on October 1, 1950.  The family maintained a farm north of Kendall, KS.    

            James graduated from Syracuse High School in 1968; Colby Community College in 1970 and from Fort Hays State University with a Bachelors in Business Administration in 1972.  Following college he was a manager at Sears in Garden City and then joined the family business, Elston Plumbing and Electric until 1982 and for several years was the primary care giver for his mother. James also managed his farm interest in Bent County, Colorado.  He was a man of strong convictions and commitment.  James had life-long love of sports and family.   He was always prepared to discuss politics and believed in the right to debate.  James was a man of faith and a parishioner of the Syracuse Wesleyan Church. 

            James was preceded in death by his grandparents, William Courtney Elston and Anna Mae Rhodenbaugh Elston; George Russell Stinchcomb and Florence Elizabeth Hixson Stinchcomb; parents, James Alfred Elston in 1982 and Naomi Jean Stinchcomb Elston in 2010; sister, Marcella Bellinger in 2012 and numerous aunts and uncles. 

            He is survived by two sisters, Janice Jones of Dodge City, KS, and Debra Elston of Washington D.C.; brother-in-law, Bruce Bellinger of Hays, KS; five aunts, Shirley Osbmont of Lamar, CO, Maxine Coleman of Syracuse, KS, and Sandra (Larry) Goodwin of Cheney, KS, Carol Stinchcomb and Marie Stinchcomb both of Pueblo, CO ; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews as well as great nieces and nephews and a host of friends. 

            Memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s name to the Syracuse Wesleyan Church either directly or in care of Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 950, Lamar, Colorado, 81052.

            Funeral arrangements are being handled by Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel in Holly, Colorado.  For more information or online condolences please visit our website at www.valleymemorialfc.com.