James Pius Singer, age 93, of Cary, formerly of Charlotte, passed away Sunday November 12, 2017. Jim was born October 4, 1924 in Camden, New Jersey to the late John Jacob and Mabel Veronica Singer. He was predeceased by his sister Mildred Singer Essman of Miami, Florida, and is survived by his brother John Jacob Singer Jr. (Jack) of Hollis, New Hampshire. Jim served in the United States Army Air Force as a navigator (1944-1946). He graduated from Clark University in 1947 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Chemistry, where he met his future wife, Florence “Lue” Chaffee. They were married in June of 1949 and moved to Wyandotte, Michigan where they started their family having two children, James and Nancy. Upon leaving Michigan, he joined his brother Jack with the startup of Hampshire Chemical in Nashua, New Hampshire. In 1962, Jim moved his family to Charlotte, North Carolina where he joined Charlotte Chemical Laboratories. Jim and Lue were active Square Dancers and served as Co-Chairs to the Square Wheelers in Charlotte, and attended the National Square Dancer’s Convention. They were also active members of Avondale Presbyterian Church where they served tirelessly throughout their lives together. Jim enjoyed bowling, sailing, woodworking, photography, electronics, and opened a TV repair shop after retiring from his fulltime job. In his later years, Jim and Lue traveled extensively during retirement. Jim was a great Husband, Father to Nancy Singer DeStasio and James J. Singer, Grandfather to six grandchildren, Nick Freeman of Charlotte, Alex and Steven Freeman of Raleigh, Jacob Singer of San Diego, Jay Singer of Raleigh, Melissa Singer Buchberg and husband Brian of Virginia Beach, and Great Grandfather to Ascher and Stella Jane Buchberg. Jim lost the Love of His Life Lue in November 2014 – though now reunited! Jim’s son, James and his wife Sara of Raleigh, and Jim’s daughter Nancy and her husband William DeStasio of Sarasota, Florida along with their families, and close friends and caregivers Teresa Faucette of Charlotte and Alga Araya of Raleigh, celebrate in the joy of Jim’s life. The Memorial Celebration will be held Tuesday, November 21, 2017 in the Chapel at Hankins and Whittington Funeral Home at 1111 East Boulevard in Charlotte, North Carolina at 1:00 p.m. Visitation with the family will be held prior to the service at Hankins and Whittington from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the “Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.” Checks can be mailed to 34 Washington St., Ste. 200, Wellesley, MA 02481 or through their website: https://curealz.org/in-memory/james-singer where a memorial page for Jim has been added, or to the Avondale Presbyterian Church Building Fund.