William Ralph (Hobby) James was born at Carrollton on July 15, 1914, the eldest son of Earnest Lee James and Mary Lena Banks James.

Hobby was a graduate of Carrollton High School, class of 1933. He was inducted into military service on December 12, 1942, at Camp Walters near Mineral Wells. Hobby served in the Army Air Force, Squadron U, 326th Unit. He spend thirty-seven months on active duty. His decorations and citations include: American Theatre Ribbon; Victory Medal; and the Good Conduct Medal.

Hobby was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal on January 8, 1946, at Drew Field in Florida. He married the former Lora (Beck) Yeargain on May 14, 1943. They had one son, John W. (Chip) James.

Ralph James retired from Continental Emsco, a division of United States Steel, in 1976, after thirty-five years of service. He died suddenly on May 6, 1979, while on a vacation in the Western United States. He is interred at Cemetery Hill with three generations of the James Family

by Kent Adair

JAMES
William Ralph (Hobby), suddenly on Sunday, May 6, 1979 at Las Vegas, Nevada. Son of the late Ernest L. (Hobby) James and the late Mary Lena Banks James. Husband of Lora D. (Beck) James; father of John W. (Chip) James both of Carrollton; brother of Gerald (Bo) and Norma L. James, Allen, Texas; Mora Sue Roycroft, Seagoville. The funeral service will be held Wednesday afternoon at 5 o'clock from the chapel of Rhoton-Weiland-Merritt Funeral Home. Dr. Wayne L. Allen, Dr. Fred A. White and W. Kent Adair will jointly officiate. Concluding service will follow at Furneaux Cemetery near Hebron. Active casket bearers, John Godwin, H. D. Glascock, Mike Cross, A. L. Long, Boyd Lamb, Emerson Strange, Bill Polley, and J. W. Good. In lieu of usual remembrances the family has requested that memorial be directed to the Mary E. Good Library, care of First Baptist Church, Carrollton, Texas. The arrangements are under the personal direction of H. D. Rhoton and W. K. Adair.
RHOTON-WEILAND-MERRITT
I-35 at Crosby Rd. Carrollton  242-5261

The Dallas Morning News - Wednesday, May 9, 1979
Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams

Funeral scheduled for William R. James

Services for William Ralph (Hobby) James 64, of 1609 Rosemon in Carrollton, a retired maintenance superintendent for Continental Emsco Co. in Garland, will be at 5 p.m. We3dnesday at Rhoton-Weiland-Merritt Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in the family cemetery in Denton County.
James died Sunday in Las Vegas while on vacation.
He was an Army veteran of World War II and was a member of First Baptist Church in Carrollton.
Survivors include his wife, Lora D. (Beck) James; a son, John W. (Chip) James; a brother, Gerald (Bo) James, and a sister, Mora Sue Roycroft.

The Dallas Morning News - Wednesday, May 9, 1979
Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams

JAMES
LORA D. (BECK)
OCT 11,1916 - BLANK
W. RALPH (HOBBY) - JULY 15, 1914 - MARY 6, 1979

WILLIAM RALPH JAMES
CPL US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
JULY 15, 1914 - MAY 6, 1979

Furneaux Cemetery, Carrollton, Denton County, Texas