James Andrew Bodin, Sr., age 86, passed away on Monday, November 26, 2018.

James was born on December 2, 1931 in Beaumont, Texas to Robert Paul and Daisy Higgs Bodin.

James' career began at age 5 selling radishes door-to-door by the bunch. At age 10 he sold The Grit newspaper for 5 cents a copy. Later he worked in a bakery and by 17 years of age his love of the open sea was ignited when he went to work as a Merchant Marine, which he continued to do in summers while he was in college. After graduating from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas with a business degree, he went to work for the Carnation Company. During the course of his work career James also worked for Sun Oil as a clerk, then later as an intermediate clerk. After working for Sun Oil, he opened a convenience store called Andy's Drive-In. He even worked as an extra in the movie industry during a visit to his daughter when she lived in Los Angeles, California. His last job before retirement was working for the Orange Stark Museum in Orange, Texas.

He served his country in the National Guard, the Army Reserve and the Navy Reserve.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Bobby

He is survived by his sister, Ann, his wife, Helen, his son and daughter-in-law, Andy and Lynn, his daughter and son-in-law, Grace Ann & Carl and grandchildren, Vincent, Chase & wife, Veronica, Cameron & Landon.

James was a loving husband and father and he was a kind, gentle soul with a zest for life, a positive outlook and a great love for the sea.

He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 10:00 am in the Cy-Fair Chapel at Klein Funeral Home, 9719 Wortham Blvd., Houston, Texas 77065, with visitation an hour before. Following the services, Mr. Bodin will be laid to rest in Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038 at 2:15 pm.