Watha James Eddins

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Carl McNair on December 19, 2013:

Fellow Classmates: On Monday, Dec 16, our departed classmate and lifelong friend, Watha Jim Eddins, was honored by his family, friends and neighbors, in a "Celebration of Life" at the Buck Mountain Episcopal Church in the small town of Earlysville, VA, just north of Charlottesville, where Jim had spent the remaining years of his life with his wife, Ann, who cared for him lovingly through his long illness following his stroke. Many of you, as well as I, and especially his loyal classmates from Company, D-1, had visited Jim and Ann there over the years. Thus, you know what a gentleman and scholar he was, serving 30 years in our Army and lived peacefully and quietly thereafter on his beautiful country place near Charlottesville. There, he was very active in the preservation movement in Albemarle County, well known to and highly respected by all who knew him for his good deeds in retirement. Jim Ryan, from Tallahassee, Bob Strati, from Winchester, and I had the privilege of attending Watha's service of celebration earlier this week in the small, but elegant and historic church in Earlysville, an "EARLY" village in Colonial America, and the earliest church in the Piedmont Region of Virginia. Founded in 1742, the original church building was erected in 1747 - long before the revolution and "55" years before the US Military Academy was founded in 1802 - only appropriate that one of our own in '55 should be honored there. It was truly a step back into time - the time of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison - historic Virginia at its finest. Also attending the services, there were two other Academy graduates outside of '55 present among the large assembly of family and friends, one was LTG Dale Vesser, '54, who had served on the faculty at West Point with Watha years ago and his wife, Valerie Vesser, who spoke during the service and had introduced Watha to his wife Ann, many years ago. Another graduate, USMA '65, representing the West Point Society of Charlottesville, was also in attendance. Very appropriately and beautifully sung by a local friend of Jim and Ann, the soloist began the service with the "Alma Mater", with our own "Class Tenor" - Jim Ryan, the family's LCA from '55, sitting approvingly on the front row of the church. Jim's daughter, Victoria Davison, led off the eulogies with touching remarks about her dad, ending with excerpts from letters he had written to the family from Vietnam during his service there, which gave a glimpse of the Watha we all knew at USMA and through our Army careers - a man of character, love for his Alma Mater, the Army, and his family. Jim's stepson, Burton Craigie Gray, followed and shared his deep feelings, respect and admiration for his stepdad, having bonded closely with Watha as the two families came together as one - another fitting tribute to both Watha and Ann. Finally, Valerie Vesser concluded the eulogies with "the rest of the story" and an accompanying poem, relating how she and Ann had taught together at the Madeira School in Washington, DC, and brought the two, Watha and Ann, together while they both resided here in Washington. With this excellent background and perspective of Jim's life and love, the pastor, Dr. Genevieve Murphy, presented the Homily. Musical pieces, all favorites of Jim, included the "Alma Mater", the Military Hymn, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save", "Battle Hymn of the Republic", and concluded with "Amazing Grace", accompanied by a Scottish Piper in full kilt and bagpipes who led the congregants from the Church to the Parish House, There, a beautiful reception followed with delicious food prepared by the ladies of the community and a display of Watha Jim's uniforms and other memorabilia providing an excellent perspective of his life - clearly focused around his three decades of military service and his family. In sum, the "Celebration of Life" was a moving and memorable service honoring one whom we all knew well and admired for his service to God and Country. Watha Jim, having sung in both the Cadet Chapel Choir and the Glee Club for all four years at West Point, would have been well pleased with the music sung and the tributes paid to him and his family upon his passing. At farewells such as this, one can sense the presence of the departed as names are spoken, events remembered, and prayers uplifted - a joyful day to salute a joyful gentleman. Thanks to all in the Class of 1955 for your condolences and thoughts of Jim and the Eddins family at this time. As previously announced on the net and in the obituary, Watha Jim Eddins will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors sometime early next year - as spring approaches. The date and time will be provided once Arlington has provided that date to the family. Faithfully and In Sympathy to Ann and the family, Grip Hands, CARL Carl H. McNair, Jr. Classmate and Friend 16 December 2013

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